Just over a century ago, the name Bunton was well known in Port Elizabeth as John’s father and grandfather in their day were both owners of the Grand Hotel in Belmont Terrace. When John’s father, Henry, changed careers in 1927 and went farming in the Selbourne district near Kirkwood, the name Bunton would never again resonate with the residents of Port Elizabeth.
John would attest to serve in the artillery. Later his younger brother, Peter, would join him in the same unit. It was during the opening stages of the battle of El Alamein on the 13th July 1942 that John would be mortally wounded, and Peter, who served in the same unit, would see his brother for the last time as he was stretchered away never to be seen again by him.
Such is the madness and futility of war.
Main picture: John Bunton in North Africa
Report by Peter Bunton on the battle that killed his brother John Bunton
Each day there was more and more action. On the 11th July [1942] a single shell fell no more than five years from me and the shrapnel sprayed Linton’s back. When I got to him the air was coming out of his wounds. He died. Planes came over and set fire to No.4 and No. 3 guns’ ammunition vehicles.
On the 13th July at precisely midday, shells started falling in our area and we received the order “Take Posts.” We fired and fired and then I saw [that] the No. 2 gun had stopped firing. I was on No. 1 gun, my brother John on No. 2. Later a 1-ton truck drove up to No.1 gun and returned with a stretcher on the back. John was on the stretcher. The truck stopped. Shells were falling. I greeted John hurriedly and the truck drove off. I never saw John again.
We fired all day, and my gun was the only gun that did not go out of action. Our four guns fired 2400 25-pounder shells, and my gun was given credit for 800 of these.
Peter Bunton would not only survive the war but he would also outlive most of his peers for Peter only died last year [2023] at the age of 101. For 80 years Peter would have to remember the loss of his elder brother and recall seeing him morally wounded in the back of the truck.
From the beginning
John’s father, Henry Arthur Bunton, was only 20 years old in 1903 when his father, Walter Bunton died and when John’s father, Henry, died in 1927 he was only 7 years old and Peter, his younger brother, was only 5 years old.
John would join the Union Defence Force in 1940 at the age of only 20 by which time his mother Grace had remarried. Surprisingly on his Attestation Form it states that his residential address was 51 Urshula Mansions, Klein Street, Johannesburg and not Elim Farm where the family resided.
Postings and promotions within the Union
On the 9th May 1940 Germany invaded France during WW2 and by the 22nd June had subjugated its neighbour. Whether it was the invasion of France which convinced John to join the Union Defence Force or whether the excitement of a being in a war which decided him to enlist is unknown but on the 17th June John formally signed the Attestation Form. On the 15th (sic) June 1940, John was posted as a Private to the No. 3 Armoured Car Coy based at Johannesburg. On the29th July 1940, John was transferred from the No. 3 Armoured Car Coy to the No 7 Armoured Car Company and then on the 12th August 1940 from the SA Tank Corp to the 5th Field Brigade. Finally on the 12th December 1940, John was transferred to the artillery, the unit which he had selected on his Attestation Form. This unit was the 5th Field Brigade SA Artillery based at Piet Retief to which he was posted as a Gunner.
John attended a series of promotion courses and was rapidly promoted first from Acting Lance Bombardier to Temporary Lance Bombardier on the 1st April 1941 and finally to Temporary Bombardier with P&A with effect from 1st April 1941.
Posting to the Middle East
John embarked upon the luxury liner, the Ile de France, in Durban harbour on the 9th June 1941 and 13 days later on the 21st June 1941 disembarked at Suez.
The battery embarked from Durban on the 9th June aboard the liner S.S. Ile de France and 12 days later disembarked at Suez on 21st June 1941.
The 5th South African Infantry Brigade was an brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II which formed part of the South African 1st Infantry Division and was formed on 13 August 1940. Initially it served in East Africa defeating the Italians in Somalia and Abyssinia. Later it would serve in the Western Desert and after the battle of El Alamein it was disbanded on the 1st January 1943.
On the 12th August 1940, John was on the Strength of the 15th Battery 5th Field Brigade which was previously the SA Tank Corps. On the 6th June 1941 John was promoted from Temporary Lance Bombardier to Temporary Bombardier
Casualty Record
Admitted to Camp Hospital in Potchefstroom on the 21st October1940
On the 2nd November 1940, John was discharged from the Camp Hospital
On the 3rd November 1940, John was placed on sick leave until 12th November, a period of 10 days.
The Hospital record does not state the reason for hospitalisation but one can assume that it was not life threatening or serious as the reason was not recorded.
A mortal wound
During the opening stage of the Battle of El Alamein General Rommel advanced against the southern flank of the Allied defence line stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the impassable Qattara Depression. It was during a German artillery bombardment that John would be wounded.
Statistically 80% of all fatal injuries sustained during a war are as a consequence of artillery fire and the current Russo-Ukrainian War adheres to that statistic. John’s injury proved to be fatal. In the Hospital Report his injury is stated as being sucking (sic) shrapnel wound which perforated his chest on the Monday 13th July 1942. As his younger brother, Peter Bunton, was serving in the same unit, he was able to see his brother before he was admitted to the 18th SA Field Hospital. Two days later John would succumb to his wounds which were reclassified as fatal.
Sources
Military record of John Gilfillan Bunton
Master Military file
Regiment No.: 53053 Surname: Bunton Christian names: John Gilfillan Next of kin: Mother Name: Mrs A.J. de Kock Age: 20 26.11.19 Occupation: Clerk
Postings:
Pte 3 Armoured Car Coy in JHB 15/6/1940
53053 Gunner 5th Field Brigade SAA (Piet Retief) 12.12.1940 15th Battery
29.07.1940 Transferred from No 3 Armoured Car Coy to No 7 Armoured Car Coy
12.08.1940 Transferred from SA Tank Corp to 5th Field Brigade
Promotions:
Promoted from Acting Lance Bombardier to Temporary Lance Bombardier with P&A w.e.f. 1/4/41
Promoted to Temporary Bombardier 6.6.1941 Attested 17/6/1940
Moves:
Embarked from Durban per S.S. Ile de France 9/6/1941
Disembarked at Suez on 21.06.1941.
Admitted to hospital and placed on X2 List from 5th Field Regt.
SAA 14.12.41 Posted to 5th Field Regiment SA Artillery from S.A.A.C.
Discharged from hospital on X4 List 4.2.42.
Casualties:
Wounded in action 13/7/1942.
Died of wounds 15/7/1942
Date: 13-7-1942 Nature: Sucking shrapnel chest wound [SCW] perforated his chest Place: In the field Hospital: 18 SA Field Ambulance Remarks: Died 15-7-1942 [Note: A sucking chest wound (SCW) happens when an injury causes a hole to open in your chest.]
Date and event
21.10.40, Admitted to Camp Hospital, Potchefstroom
2.11.40 Discharged from Camp Hospital
12.08.40 On strength with 15th Battery, 5th Field Brigade ex SA Tank Corps
3.11.40 Sick leave to 12.11.1940 (10 days)
4.06.41 Promoted from Temporary Lance Bombardier to Lance Bombardier
Medals awarded
1939-45 Star
Africa Star
The War Medal 1939-45
Africa Service Medal
Volunteer Units of the Union Defence Force
Full name: John Gilfillan Bunton
Place born: Port Elizabeth
Do you belong to any military force: Pupil pilot in the Airforce
Service in such forces: No being called up in January 1941
Ever convicted in a civil court: No
Marital status: 9Single
Children: None
Next of kin: Mother
Name: Mrs AP de Kock
Address: Elim Selbourne, Addo, Cape Province
Private address: 51 Ursula Mansions, Klein Street, Johannesburg
Record of Service
21 Jun 1941 Disembarked at Suez
14 Dec 1941 Admitted to hospital
14 Dec 1941 Ceases to draw 4d per day Specialist Allowance (Layer)
12 Feb 1942 Rejoined unit from SAA [South African Artillery] General List X4
22 Jan 1942 Granted 4d per day Specialist Allowance (Layer) [presumably as in gun layer]
13 Jul 1942 Wounded
15 Jul 1942 Died of wounds
Abbreviations
M.E. = Middle East
UDF = Union Defence Force
W.e.f. = With effect from
L. Bde = Lance bombardier
A/L Bde = Acting lance bombardier
T/L Bde = Temporary lance bombardier
T Bde = Temporary bombardier