8/2623 L/corporal David Hunter, 27/4/1887-27/9/1916. "a withering blast of fire"

David Hunter enlisted in the Otago Infantry Regiment in April, 1915.  He was in the Regiment's 14th Company, 1st Battalion, when the Otagos attacked German positions in the Battle of the Somme.  The Otagos' Official History relates the incident in which David died:

A BITTER EXPERIENCE.

The attack for the 27th, to which the 1st Infantry Brigade was committed, was timed to commence at 2.15 p.m., and at 7 a.m. the preliminary bombardment opened. The 1st Battalion of Otago was again on the left of the attack, and when the barrage came down deployed in the following order: 14th Company on the right; 4th Company on the left; 8th Company in support; and 10th Company moving north along the line of Goose Alley on the left of the attack.

Punctually to time and in good order the Battalion advanced to the attack, and with only a moderate number of casualties crossed the line of Factory Corner-Eaucourt L'Abbaye Road, From this stage the ground fell away abruptly and the attacking troops almost immediately came under a withering blast of fire from enemy rifles and machine guns posted along Gird Trench and Gird Support. The two leading Companies, 14th and 4th, valiantly endeavoured to press on against this hail of fire; but it was only a question of distance when they were literally swept away by it. Every officer and almost every man became a casualty. The 8th Company, following in rear, now advanced into the breach. With equal gallantry the endeavour to reach Gird Trench was renewed, only to find that the protecting wire in the low lying ground was uncut. Here the attack withered away, and the few survivors, the remnant of three shattered Companies, took refuge in the shell-holes. A few of our men, joining up with the 1st Battalion of Auckland on the right, had succeeded in reaching Gird Trench.

Word has been received by Mr David Hunter, 11 McBride street, that his son, Private David Hunter, has been wounded. Private Hunter emigrated from Fifeshire to New Zealand eight years ago, and was employed at Hastings as a carpenter. He enlisted from Dunedin in the sixth Reinforcements. He was a wellknown member of the Pacific Harriers. This is the second son of Mr Hunter to suffer, Corporal Harry Hunter, who left New Zealand with the Main Body, having been killed in action on Gallipoli in May, 1915.  -Otago Daily Times, 17/10/1916.

David Hunter's death was found to have occurred on September 27 by a Court of Enquiry. He has no known grave.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.