Almost immediately after landing in Mesopotamia, the battalion went by barges up the river Euphrates to Nasariyeh, where it was employed in guarding Prisoners of War and improving existing defensive positions occupied by the 34th Indian Infantry Brigade. The battalion, by now in 12th Infantry Brigade was involved in operations to relieve Kut-al-Amara, where General Townsend’s force had been surrounded and besieged by Turkish Forces. It was during this operation that the battalion fought in its first action of the war, which lasted some five hours. The battalion suffered 14 casualties.
Insanitary conditions in and around Nasariyeh contributed to an outbreak of cholera in the civilian population, but though the city was put out of bounds to the soldiers, some men caught the disease, and some of those who did died from it. Water-borne diseases, the heat and malaria were a constant threat to the battalion, and it is telling that by the time the war ended, more men had died of disease, than had been killed in action.
William Hunter was disembodied from the Territorial Force suffering from malaria on 28th April 1919. He was awarded the Silver War Badge. He was pensioned for the disability the malaria caused, and originally came to Barwick, presumably to live with his parents until his health improved, but by July 1922, he had gained employment, with accommodation at St Anne’s Old Links Golf Club, where he was a Golf Groundsman.
On his return to Barwick, William Hunter lived with his wife,
Frances (née Hewitt), on Elmwood Lane.
He died in 1955.
