(6 October 1923 - 3 April 1945) was a Scottish
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
Details
Hunter was 21 years old, and a temporary corporalin 43 (RM) Commando
during the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
during WW2 when the following incident took place. He was awarded the VC for his actions during Operation Roast
.
On 2 April 1945 at Lake Comacchio
, Italy
, Corporal Hunter, who was in charge of a Bren
gun section, offered himself as a target to save his troop. Seizing the Bren gun, he charged alone across 200 yards of open ground under most intense fire towards a group of houses where three Spandau machine-guns were lodged. So determined was his charge that the enemy soldiers were demoralized and six gunners surrendered. The remainder fled. Hunter cleared the house, changing magazines as he ran and continued to draw enemy fire until most of the troop had reached cover, Hunter was killed, firing accurately to the last. Danish national, Major Anders Lassen
of the Special Boat Service
(SBS) was also awarded a VC posthumously in the same action.
Personal life
Thomas Hunter was born in Aldershoton 6 October 1923, one of five children of Ramsey and Mary Hunter (a former soldier and civil servant), who moved to Edinburgh shortly after his birth. Hunter attended Tynecastle High School
(where the poet Wilfred Owen
had taught during recuperation in 1917) and Stenhouse School before becoming an apprentice stationer in Edinburgh. At the outbreak of the war he served in the Home Guard and was called up on 8 May 1942 for military service. He enlisted as a hostilities–only (HO) marine on 23 June 1942. He was promoted LCpl on 6 October 1943 and Temporary Cpl on 25 January 1945. Hunter’s sister lives in Edinburgh and his nephew, John Swinney
, is the Scottish finance secretary and Member of the Scottish Parliament
.
The Medal
Cpl Thomas Hunter’s VC was gazetted on 12 June 1945. King George VIpresented his VC to his parents at a private investiture on 26 September 1945 at Holyrood House
. In September 1974 the medal was donated by his sister and nephew to the Royal Marines Museum
in Southsea
, where all 10 Royal Marines
VCs are securely stored, the medal on display there being a copy. His citation reads:
ADMIRALTY
AdmiraltyThe Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
.
Whitehall
WhitehallWhitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
12th June, 1945.
The KING
George VI of the United KingdomGeorge VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSSVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for valour to: —
The late Corporal (Temporary) Thomas Peck HUNTER, CH/X. 110296, Royal Marines
Royal MarinesThe 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...
(attached Special Service TroopsBritish CommandosThe British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe...
) (43rd Royal Marine Commando43 CommandoNo. 43 Commando or 43 Commando was a unit of Royal Marines trained as Commandos during the Second World War. They served in the 2nd Special Service Brigade in the Mediterranean, Italy and the Adriatic....
) (EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
).
In Italy
Italian Campaign (World War II)The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
during the advance by the Commando43 CommandoNo. 43 Commando or 43 Commando was a unit of Royal Marines trained as Commandos during the Second World War. They served in the 2nd Special Service Brigade in the Mediterranean, Italy and the Adriatic....
to its final objective, Corporal Hunter of "C" Troop was in charge of a Bren group of the leading sub-sectionSection (military unit)A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
of the Commando. Having advanced to within 400 yards of the canalCanalCanals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
, he observed the enemy were holding a group of houses South of the canal. Realising that his Troop behind him were in the open, as the country there was completely devoid of cover, and that the enemyEnemy combatantEnemy combatant is a term historically referring to members of the armed forces of the state with which another state is at war. Prior to 2008, the definition was: "Any person in an armed conflict who could be properly detained under the laws and customs of war." In the case of a civil war or an...
would cause heavy casualtiesCasualty (person)A casualty is a person who is the victim of an accident, injury, or trauma. The word casualties is most often used by the news media to describe deaths and injuries resulting from wars or disasters...
as soon as they opened fire, Corporal Hunter seized the Bren gun and charged alone across two hundred yards of open ground. Three Spandaus from the houses, and at least six from the North bank of the canal opened fire and at the same time the enemy mortarsMortar (weapon)A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
started to fire at the TroopTroopA troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
.
Corporal Hunter attracted most of the fire, and so determined was his charge and his firing from the hip that the enemy in the houses became demoralised. Showing complete disregard for the intense enemy fire, he ran through the houses, changing magazines as he ran, and alone cleared the houses. Six Germans surrendered to him and the remainder fled across a footbridge onto the North bank of the canal.
The Troop dashing up behind Corporal Hunter now became the target for all the Spandaus on the North of the canal. Again, offering himself as a target, he lay in full view of the enemy on a heap of rubble and fired at the concrete
ConcreteConcrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
pillboxes on the other side. He again drew most of the fire, but by now the greater part of the Troop had made for the safety of the houses. During this period he shouted encouragement to the remainder, and called only for more Bren magazines with which he could engage the Spandaus. Firing with great accuracy up to the last, Corporal Hunter was finally hit in the head by a burst of Spandau fire and killed instantly.
There can be no doubt that Corporal Hunter offered himself as a target in order to save his Troop, and only the speed of his movement prevented him being hit earlier. The skill and accuracy with which he used his Bren gun is proved by the way he demoralised the enemy, and later did definitely silence many of the Spandaus firing on his Troop as they crossed open ground, so much so that under his covering fire elements of the Troop made their final objective
Objective (military)A military objective is a clearly defined desired result in a given campaign, major operation, battle, or engagement set by the senior command for their formations and units to achieve. Military objectives can be set within a three-tier scale of combat structure of tactical, operational and...
before he was killed.
Throughout the operation
Military operationMilitary operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
his magnificent courage, leadership and cheerfulness had been an inspiration to his comrades.
Memorials and Tributes
Hunter is buried at the Argenta Gap (CWGC) War Cemetery, Emilia-Romagnain plot III.G.20. The Royal Marines treasure the memory of their only Second World War Victoria Cross recipient and a number of buildings, memorials and organisations are named after him. Scotland also honours one of her heroes. Known memorials and tributes are:
- Memorials and Tributes
- Ocean Terminal, EdinburghOcean Terminal, EdinburghOcean Terminal in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland is a shopping centre, designed by Sir Terence Conran.It is built on former industrial docklands on the north side of the city at the edge of the boundary between formerly separate ports of Newhaven and Leith. The land was formerly occupied by the Henry...
, Scotland – Memorial to Thomas Hunter (pictured) - Royal Marines MuseumRoyal Marines MuseumThe Royal Marines Museum is located in Eastney , England, and is open to the public every day of the week throughout the year apart from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day...
, Eastney – Personal display in medal room and also named on 43 Commando43 CommandoNo. 43 Commando or 43 Commando was a unit of Royal Marines trained as Commandos during the Second World War. They served in the 2nd Special Service Brigade in the Mediterranean, Italy and the Adriatic....
memorial in the museum’s Memorial Garden. - Memorial at Porto Garibaldi, Italy - unveiled April 1992.
- Memorial Ship’s Bell, CTCRM, Lympstone.
- Tynecastle High SchoolTynecastle High SchoolTynecastle High School is a secondary school in South West Edinburgh, Scotland.-Headteacher and SMT:The Headteacher is Tom Rae. He is assisted by his depute heads Elizabeth Turnbull, Jacqueline Ramsay and Jim Brown.-History:...
, Edinburgh – Memorial. - Gibraltar Building, HMNB ClydeHMNB ClydeHer Majesty's Naval Base Clyde is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy...
– Display and tribute adjacent to 43 Commando’s43 CommandoNo. 43 Commando or 43 Commando was a unit of Royal Marines trained as Commandos during the Second World War. They served in the 2nd Special Service Brigade in the Mediterranean, Italy and the Adriatic....
ColoursColours, standards and guidonsIn military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
cabinet. - House Plaques, Edinburgh – plaques placed on 8 houses in Edinburgh in March 1954.
- Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh
- Buildings and Organisations
- Hunter Company (formerly Hunter Troop) at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
- Hunter Block – Fleet Protection Group Royal MarinesFleet Protection Group Royal MarinesThe Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines , formerly Comacchio Company Royal Marines and Comacchio Group Royal Marines , is a commando-sized specialist unit of the Royal Marines responsible for guarding the United Kingdom's Naval nuclear weapons and other security-related duties.-History:On 1 May...
accommodation block at HMNB ClydeHMNB ClydeHer Majesty's Naval Base Clyde is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy...
.
Sources
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to CourageMonuments to CourageMonuments to Courage: Victoria Cross Monuments and Headstones is a two-volume book by David Harvey on the last resting places of 1,322 of the 1,350 recipients of the Victoria Cross. The 896 page book has over 5,000 illustrations and a large index enabling one to cross reference with ease. There is...
(David Harvey, 1999) - The Register of the Victoria CrossThe Register of the Victoria CrossThe Register of the Victoria Cross is a reference work that provides brief information on every Victoria Cross ever awarded: it provides a summary of the deed, along with a photograph of the awardee and the following details where applicable or available; rank, unit, other decorations, date of...
(This England, 1997)