David Peter Lafayette Hunter
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel David Hunter, (24 November 1919 — 5 September 2001), was a prisoner of war
in Colditz Castle
, later commanding officer of 40 Commando
and recipient of the Military Cross
.
, Kent
on 24 November 1919.
He was the third son of Major
Edgar Lafayette Hunter MC
and Dorothy Thompson.
He was educated at Shrewsbury
.
in 1937 and passed out at Deal, Kent
just before the outbreak of war
. On 2 Feb 1940 he was made probationary Lieutenant.
He was posted to the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk
. The Norfolk was bombed whilst at Scapa Flow
on 16 March 1940 and sent to the Clyde
for repair. Hunter was redeployed to Chatham where he was selected for the Calais force
as part of the BEF
.
shortly after midnight on May 25, 1940. With one other officer, Lt Hugh Bruce
, they were charged with helping French marines to defend the ancient citadel
at the centre of the town.
There they were attacked by the full might of XIX Panzer Corps and, by early evening, were surrounded and out of ammunition.
Hunter was later mentioned in dispatches
for his "courage and devotion to duty" in racing up and down the beach to keep his unit's machinegun supplied with ammunition.
They had fought with such vigour that the official German record read, "The enemy gives the impression of being fresh, and seems to have received reinforcements after two days of heavy fighting."
Despite their efforts, within two days Calais had been surrendered to the Germans and the British troops including Hunter taken prisoner.
and Trier
to Mainz
. From there, they were moved on to Laufen camp
in Bavaria
, then transferred to Tittmoning
. The Royal Marines officers were moved to Marlag und Milag Nord
part of Stalag X-B
at Sandbostel
where they soon started planning their escape.
Bruce, Hunter's fellow Marine officer, was imprisoned with him and, over the winter of 1941-42, the two men became firm friends.
With a number of colleagues they conceived, designed and built by hand a masterpiece of British engineering - a 251-yard-long tunnel, complete with rest bay, electric lighting and air flow system, as well as a signalling
device to warn of the approach of sentries. Over 100 tons of soil was excavated and concealed under a hut. On April 7, 1942 Hunter, Bruce and 10 other officers made their escape.
After 12 days on the run Bruce and Hunter were captured near Flensburg
, within a few hundred yards of the Danish border. After a brief spell back at Sandbostel, the pair escaped once again, this time by jumping aboard a prison lorry, but were recaptured at Hamburg
railway station by the German police.
They were transferred to Stalag VIII-B
in Lamsdorf, Silesia
, a prison camp for "other ranks".
Their stay lasted only a few months. Hunter was found dangling from a window within inches of a snarling guard dog and two of Hunter's colleagues were also caught escaping. The miscreants were summarily banished to Colditz Castle
.
), where fellow persistent escapees were highly engaged in planning more escapes, and Hunter was soon involved in the various projects.
The three Royal Marine officers (Capt Courtice, their company commander at Calais, was also at Colditz) had a reputation for bravery and good humour, and Hunter was noted as being particularly outspoken, a persistent nuisance to his captors and equally amusing to his colleagues.
He once stole the cap of the German officer who was expounding on the merits of Wagner
during a musical evening. Another incident even made the Germans laugh when, late for a roll-call, he called languidly from a castle window to the parade below "I'll come down and join you all in a minute".
In October 1943 Mike Sinclair was caught during the daring Franz Josef escape. Although Sinclair had surrendered, he was shot at close range by a German officer. Hunter, along with many other witnesses, believed his friend to be dead and shouted "German murderers!". He was subsequently sentenced at a court martial to two months in Graudenz military prison.
Forty years later, some 30 officers and their wives made a return visit to Colditz and Hunter was seen by millions of television viewers standing in the courtyard and taking off the Commandant's "Call to Appell" at the top of his voice.
Despite the many notable escape attempts from Colditz, Hunter remained in Colditz until release on 16 April 1945.
25 February 1946.
Hunter was appointed officer commanding Royal Marines in Berlin
. This was not a sensitive posting and Hunter was soon returned to Britain.
He was next posted to the aircraft carrier
, Illustrious
. Detecting a poor level of morale aboard, he and Donald Douglas, a former PoW
of the Japanese, determined to confront the ship's captain and insist on reasonable treatment. On entering the captain's cabin, Hunter declared "Look, Sir, we're here to tell you that we've both been b******d
about as PoWs and we're not having any of it in peacetime!". Douglas was aghast, but to his surprise the captain
replied, "All right, I hear you. Dismiss!". The ship's captain later confided to them "Lucky for you on the first day we met that I was reading a book on how to deal with ex-PoWs, or your fate might have been different."
Subsequent postings took him to Egypt
, Aqaba
, Hong Kong
and, in 1950, Malaya
. He was made Officer in Charge Cameron Highlands
Jungle Operation, protecting planters from Communist guerillas
during the Malayan Emergency
.
Not long after arriving, he was asked to take a Mr Justice Brown on a jungle patrol with 45 Commando
. Whilst advancing up a hill at Ringlet
they encountered six bandits, one of whom threw a grenade
at the soldiers whilst they made their escape. In an act he later described as a "mental aberration", Hunter calmly covered the grenade with his hat and held it while his comrades ran to safety. Fortunately the grenade failed to detonate.
Later, to Hunter's astonishment, he was awarded the Military Cross
for his "vigour, determination and outstanding skill" in conducting operations against the bandits.
He was promoted to Major
on 14 January 1955. In 1956 he became Amphibious Staff officer, 3 Commando Brigade
at Suez
.
There followed postings to the RN Staff College
, Greenwich
, and at Amphibious Warfare HQ, London, followed by a six-month Joint Training Course with the US Marines in San Diego.
In 1961 his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel
was confirmed. and he took command of 40 Commando until 1963. Based in Singapore
, he was frequently employed in Borneo
during the confrontation with the Indonesians following the Brunei Revolt
of 1962.
After a series of staff appointments, Hunter retired from the Royal Marines 3 March 1967.
officer, Barbara Lewis, in Brentford late in 1945.
They had two sons.
Following his retirement from the Marines, Hunter and his family emigrated to Freeport, Bahamas
. In 1967 Hunter joined the real estate company of McPherson & Brown.
Barbara died in 1971 and, in 1974 Hunter subsequently remarried to Suzanne Twiston-Davies, a journalist with the BBC
.
In 1981, he and colleague, Hilary Jones, bought McPherson & Brown, changing its name to Churchill & Jones. In 1997 Hunter led Churchill & Jones into obtaining the franchise for the Northern Bahamas of RE/MAX
, the international real estate conglomerate.
David Peter Lafayette Hunter died on 5 September 2001.
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Colditz Castle
Oflag IV-C
Oflag IV-C, often referred to as Colditz Castle because of its location, was one of the most famous German Army prisoner-of-war camps for officers in World War II; Oflag is a shortening of Offizierslager, meaning "officers camp"...
, later commanding officer of 40 Commando
40 Commando
40 Commando RM is a battalion sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet....
and recipient of the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
Early life
David Peter Lafayette Hunter was born at Minnis Hall, Stelling MinnisStelling Minnis
Stelling Minnis is a village and civil parish in the Shepway District in Kent, England. The village lies to the south of Canterbury, and to the east of the B2068, Stone Street, the Roman road, which takes traffic between Lympne and Canterbury.- Windmill :...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
on 24 November 1919.
He was the third son of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Edgar Lafayette Hunter MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and Dorothy Thompson.
He was educated at Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
.
Military career
Hunter joined the Royal MarinesRoyal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
in 1937 and passed out at Deal, Kent
Deal, Kent
Deal is a town in Kent England. It lies on the English Channel eight miles north-east of Dover and eight miles south of Ramsgate. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town...
just before the outbreak of war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On 2 Feb 1940 he was made probationary Lieutenant.
He was posted to the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk
HMS Norfolk (78)
HMS Norfolk was a County-class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy; along with her sister ship , she was part of a planned four-ship subclass.She served throughout the Second World War....
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. The Norfolk was bombed whilst at Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
on 16 March 1940 and sent to the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
for repair. Hunter was redeployed to Chatham where he was selected for the Calais force
Siege of Calais (1940)
The Siege of Calais was a battle for the port and town of Calais during the German blitzkrieg which overran northern France in 1940. It immediately preceded Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force through Dunkirk....
as part of the BEF
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
.
Calais
Hunter was part of Captain Darby Courtice's company of 85 Royal Marines which landed at CalaisCalais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
shortly after midnight on May 25, 1940. With one other officer, Lt Hugh Bruce
Hugh Bruce
Major Hugh Bruce, , was a prisoner-of-war in Colditz Castle and later commanding officer of the Special Boat Service.-Early life:...
, they were charged with helping French marines to defend the ancient citadel
Citadel
A citadel is a fortress for protecting a town, sometimes incorporating a castle. The term derives from the same Latin root as the word "city", civis, meaning citizen....
at the centre of the town.
There they were attacked by the full might of XIX Panzer Corps and, by early evening, were surrounded and out of ammunition.
Hunter was later mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
for his "courage and devotion to duty" in racing up and down the beach to keep his unit's machinegun supplied with ammunition.
They had fought with such vigour that the official German record read, "The enemy gives the impression of being fresh, and seems to have received reinforcements after two days of heavy fighting."
Despite their efforts, within two days Calais had been surrendered to the Germans and the British troops including Hunter taken prisoner.
Prisoner of War
The captured troops were marched through northern France, the ArdennesArdennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
and Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
to Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
. From there, they were moved on to Laufen camp
Oflag VII-C
Oflag VII-C was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp for officers located in Laufen Castle in south-eastern Bavaria from 1940 to 1942. Most of the prisoners were British officers captured during the Battle of France in 1940. To relieve overcrowding, some of the officers were transferred to...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, then transferred to Tittmoning
Oflag VII-D
Oflag VII-C/Z, later renamed Oflag VII-D was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp for officers located in Tittmoning Castle in south-eastern Bavaria from 1940 to 1942. It existed only a short time...
. The Royal Marines officers were moved to Marlag und Milag Nord
Marlag und Milag Nord
Marlag und Milag Nord was a German Prisoner-of-war camp in Military District X, located near Westertimke, Germany.There were over 5,000 Allied Merchant seamen captured by the German forces during World War II...
part of Stalag X-B
Stalag X-B
Stalag X-B was a World War II German Prisoner-of-war camp located near Sandbostel in north-western Germany. Sandbostel lies 9 km south of Bremervörde, 43 km northeast of Bremen. Placed on swampy ground,with a damp, cold climate, it is one of the most notorious prisoner-of-war camps. Between...
at Sandbostel
Sandbostel
Sandbostel is a municipality in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, 43 km north-east of Bremen, 60 km west of Hamburg. Coordinates: 53° 25′ N, 9° 8′ E. Population: 816...
where they soon started planning their escape.
Bruce, Hunter's fellow Marine officer, was imprisoned with him and, over the winter of 1941-42, the two men became firm friends.
With a number of colleagues they conceived, designed and built by hand a masterpiece of British engineering - a 251-yard-long tunnel, complete with rest bay, electric lighting and air flow system, as well as a signalling
device to warn of the approach of sentries. Over 100 tons of soil was excavated and concealed under a hut. On April 7, 1942 Hunter, Bruce and 10 other officers made their escape.
After 12 days on the run Bruce and Hunter were captured near Flensburg
Flensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
, within a few hundred yards of the Danish border. After a brief spell back at Sandbostel, the pair escaped once again, this time by jumping aboard a prison lorry, but were recaptured at Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
railway station by the German police.
They were transferred to Stalag VIII-B
Stalag VIII-B
Stalag VIII-B Lamsdorf was a notorious German Army prisoner of war camp, later renumbered Stalag-344, located near the small town of Lamsdorf in Silesia. The camp initially occupied barracks built to house British and French prisoners in World War I...
in Lamsdorf, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, a prison camp for "other ranks".
Their stay lasted only a few months. Hunter was found dangling from a window within inches of a snarling guard dog and two of Hunter's colleagues were also caught escaping. The miscreants were summarily banished to Colditz Castle
Colditz Castle
Colditz Castle is a Renaissance castle in the town of Colditz near Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz in the state of Saxony in Germany. Used as a workhouse for the indigent and a mental institution for over 100 years, it gained international fame as a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II for...
.
Colditz
In early August 1942 Bruce and Hunter arrived at Colditz Castle (then prisoner of war camp Oflag IV-COflag IV-C
Oflag IV-C, often referred to as Colditz Castle because of its location, was one of the most famous German Army prisoner-of-war camps for officers in World War II; Oflag is a shortening of Offizierslager, meaning "officers camp"...
), where fellow persistent escapees were highly engaged in planning more escapes, and Hunter was soon involved in the various projects.
The three Royal Marine officers (Capt Courtice, their company commander at Calais, was also at Colditz) had a reputation for bravery and good humour, and Hunter was noted as being particularly outspoken, a persistent nuisance to his captors and equally amusing to his colleagues.
He once stole the cap of the German officer who was expounding on the merits of Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
during a musical evening. Another incident even made the Germans laugh when, late for a roll-call, he called languidly from a castle window to the parade below "I'll come down and join you all in a minute".
In October 1943 Mike Sinclair was caught during the daring Franz Josef escape. Although Sinclair had surrendered, he was shot at close range by a German officer. Hunter, along with many other witnesses, believed his friend to be dead and shouted "German murderers!". He was subsequently sentenced at a court martial to two months in Graudenz military prison.
Forty years later, some 30 officers and their wives made a return visit to Colditz and Hunter was seen by millions of television viewers standing in the courtyard and taking off the Commandant's "Call to Appell" at the top of his voice.
Despite the many notable escape attempts from Colditz, Hunter remained in Colditz until release on 16 April 1945.
Post war
Following release he underwent a brief re-training period. He was appointed temporary captainCaptain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
25 February 1946.
Hunter was appointed officer commanding Royal Marines in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. This was not a sensitive posting and Hunter was soon returned to Britain.
He was next posted to the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, Illustrious
HMS Illustrious (R87)
HMS Illustrious , the fourth Illustrious of the British Royal Navy, was an aircraft carrier which saw service in World War II, the lead ship of the Illustrious-class of carriers which also included Victorious, Formidable, and Indomitable.-Construction:Illustrious was built by Vickers-Armstrongs at...
. Detecting a poor level of morale aboard, he and Donald Douglas, a former PoW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
of the Japanese, determined to confront the ship's captain and insist on reasonable treatment. On entering the captain's cabin, Hunter declared "Look, Sir, we're here to tell you that we've both been b******d
Bugger
Bugger is a slang word used in the vernacular British English, Australian English, Canadian English, New Zealand English, South African English, Caribbean English, Sri Lankan English and occasionally also in Malaysian English and Singaporean English, and rarely American English...
about as PoWs and we're not having any of it in peacetime!". Douglas was aghast, but to his surprise the captain
replied, "All right, I hear you. Dismiss!". The ship's captain later confided to them "Lucky for you on the first day we met that I was reading a book on how to deal with ex-PoWs, or your fate might have been different."
Subsequent postings took him to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Aqaba
Aqaba
Aqaba is a coastal city in the far south of Jordan, the capital of Aqaba Governorate at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. Aqaba is strategically important to Jordan as it is the country's only seaport. Aqaba is best known today as a diving and beach resort, but industrial activity remains important...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and, in 1950, Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
. He was made Officer in Charge Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations. It covers an area of .To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak....
Jungle Operation, protecting planters from Communist guerillas
Malayan Races Liberation Army
The Malayan Races Liberation Army was the name given by British security forces to a combatant in the Malayan Emergency, an insurrection and guerrilla war against the British and Malayan administration from 1948-1960 in what is now Malaysia....
during the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
.
Not long after arriving, he was asked to take a Mr Justice Brown on a jungle patrol with 45 Commando
45 Commando
45 Commando Royal Marines is a battalion sized unit of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet....
. Whilst advancing up a hill at Ringlet
Ringlet, Malaysia
Ringlet is the first town in Cameron Highlands from Tapah. It is a hub of Malaysia's vegetable farming and international flower farming sector....
they encountered six bandits, one of whom threw a grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
at the soldiers whilst they made their escape. In an act he later described as a "mental aberration", Hunter calmly covered the grenade with his hat and held it while his comrades ran to safety. Fortunately the grenade failed to detonate.
Later, to Hunter's astonishment, he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his "vigour, determination and outstanding skill" in conducting operations against the bandits.
He was promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
on 14 January 1955. In 1956 he became Amphibious Staff officer, 3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando...
at Suez
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
.
There followed postings to the RN Staff College
Old Royal Naval College
The Old Royal Naval College is the architectural centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich, a World Heritage Site in Greenwich, London, described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation as being of “outstanding universal value” and reckoned to be the “finest and most...
, Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, and at Amphibious Warfare HQ, London, followed by a six-month Joint Training Course with the US Marines in San Diego.
In 1961 his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
was confirmed. and he took command of 40 Commando until 1963. Based in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, he was frequently employed in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
during the confrontation with the Indonesians following the Brunei Revolt
Brunei Revolt
The Brunei Rebellion broke out on 8 December 1962. The rebels began co-ordinated attacks on the oil town of Seria and on police stations and government facilities around the protectorate...
of 1962.
After a series of staff appointments, Hunter retired from the Royal Marines 3 March 1967.
Civilian Life
Hunter married WAAFWomen's Auxiliary Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force , whose members were invariably referred to as Waafs , was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II, established in 1939. At its peak strength, in 1943, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week.A Women's Royal Air...
officer, Barbara Lewis, in Brentford late in 1945.
They had two sons.
Following his retirement from the Marines, Hunter and his family emigrated to Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
. In 1967 Hunter joined the real estate company of McPherson & Brown.
Barbara died in 1971 and, in 1974 Hunter subsequently remarried to Suzanne Twiston-Davies, a journalist with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
In 1981, he and colleague, Hilary Jones, bought McPherson & Brown, changing its name to Churchill & Jones. In 1997 Hunter led Churchill & Jones into obtaining the franchise for the Northern Bahamas of RE/MAX
RE/MAX
RE/MAX International is an international real estate company. It was founded in 1973 by David and Gail Liniger in Denver, Colorado, and is still owned by its founders. RE/MAX is an acronym for Real Estate MAXimum....
, the international real estate conglomerate.
David Peter Lafayette Hunter died on 5 September 2001.