Joe was born in 1891 in Stairfoot, near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. His family had been living in Holwell just beforehand, as his two older brothers and older sister were born here. His father, Tom, worked as a quarryman.

By 1911, the Hunt family were living at the Old Brickyard in Scalford. Joseph, then aged 20, worked as a quarryman at the ironstone mine, as did his older brother, Emmanuel. The eldest brother, William, worked as a farm labourer and eldest sister, Frances, was in domestic service. Youngest sister, Ada, aged 11, was still at school.

Joseph joined the Leicestershire Regiment in Melton Mowbray on 11th September 1914, aged 23.

He was cousin to Joseph Hewson, also from Holwell and who died in the War.

14637 Private Joseph Hunt was killed in action on 17th August 1917. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial to the Missing, Pas de Calais in France. The thousands of names of the servicemen missing in action with no known grave are inscribed on 139 stone panels.

His family later moved to Loughborough Road, Leicester.