William Gunter (1862 - 1904)

 William was born 28 August 1862 at West Mills in Newbury the son of Richard Gunter & Harriet Hawkins. He was recorded as William Charles at birth but did not seem to use the name Charles at any point.

In the 1871 census William was living with his parents & two siblings at Greenham. William enlisted in the Berkshire Regiment on 10 June 1881 at Reading barracks. He was recorded as a labourer aged 18 years & 4 months (he was actually 19 years old). He served in the army for exactly twelve years so left service on 9 June 1883. Most of his service was in the United Kingdom but he did serve from 7 October 1884 until 17 October 1885 in Egypt.

Three years after leaving service William married Caroline Mary How on 14 December 1886 at Newbury Registry Office. Caroline was born 7 September 1864 in Kentish Town in London.

After the marriage the family initially lived in East Woodhay as eldest son Thomas was born there in 1887. The family were still living at East Woodhay in the 1891 census with William recorded as a bricklayer's labourer. On 26 March 1900 William applied to join the Royal Reserve Regiment & it appears he was immediately added to the reserves, he does not appear to have had any active service.

By the time of the census on 31 March 1901 William & Caroline with four sons were living at Station Road in Ash in Surrey. William was recorded as a journeyman bricklayer.

A few months after the census William joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. He served with this regiment in Malta from 20 September 1901 to 30 July 1903. He then returned to England & was discharged on 10 August 1903 at Gosport having been found unfit for further service.

William died 9 August 1904 at the District Hospital in Newbury. He was recorded as an army pensioner of Newbury. His death was reported by his sister Mary Walters of 14 Kennet Court, West Mills in Newbury. He was buried 11 August 1904 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

Caroline remarried after William's death on 3 June 1905 to Alfred George Dandridge & then again in 1941 to Alfred Hopkins. She died 1945 in Aldershot district.