Eldest son of Mr P.C. Hurst, Nelson manager of Levin & Co. Limited. He was educated at Nelson College and then Canterbury University where he earned BSc (1935) and MSc (Hons) in Chemistry. At the outbreak of war, he was enrolled at Cambridge University studying for a DSc which he interrupted to undertake the bomb research.

Robert C. Hurst of Nelson was awarded the George Medal for gallantry during the bombing of London. For four years he had been in charge of a station in Britain engaged in research on unexploded bombs and had been a member of a scientific committee which investigated flying bombs.

He wore uniform at the end of the war when he flew to Berlin to inspect unexploded bombs. AWMM