33:
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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
343:
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
509:
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
483:
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
841:
501:
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
1030:
272:
on 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 Stenhouse Primary School and
450:, 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
296:
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.
339:
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
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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:
1025:
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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
896:
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650:
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had taught during recuperation in 1917) before becoming an apprentice stationer in
Edinburgh. Hunter's nephew, is Scottish First Minister
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from the houses, and at least six from the North bank of the canal opened fire and at the same time the enemy
510:
up to the last, Corporal Hunter was finally hit in the head by a burst of
Spandau fire and killed instantly.
489:
443:
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32:
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248:, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to
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surrendered to him and the remainder fled across a footbridge onto the North bank of the canal.
876:
455:
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873:
Nothing Much to Lose – The Story of 2nd
Battalion Royal Marines and 43 Commando Royal Marines
537:
his magnificent courage, leadership and cheerfulness had been an inspiration to his comrades.
968:
575:
193:
179:
145:
638:– a plaque placed on one of a small development of eight houses in Stenhouse in March 1954.
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571:
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Hunter
Company (formerly Hunter Troop) at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
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when the following incident took place. He was awarded the VC for his actions during
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980:
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presented his VC to his parents at a private investiture on 26 September 1945 at
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550:. In September 1974 the medal was donated by his sister and nephew to the
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to its final objective, Corporal Hunter of "C" Troop was in charge of a
234:
The memorial to Thomas Peck Hunter outside Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh.
63:
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in plot III.G.20. The Royal Marines treasure the memory of their only
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gun and charged alone across two hundred yards of open ground. Three
875:. Bournemouth: 43rd Royal Marines Commando Reunion. pp. 54–55.
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VCs are securely stored, the medal on display there being a copy.
471:
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83:
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The late Corporal (Temporary) Thomas Peck HUNTER, CH/X. 110296,
244:(6 October 1923 – 3 April 1945) was a British recipient of the
594:, Eastney – Personal display in medal room and also named on
352:(SBS) was also awarded a VC posthumously in the same action.
446:
of the Commando. Having advanced to within 400 yards of the
37:
Detailed view of the inscription on the Edinburgh memorial
734:
732:
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Memorial at Porto Garibaldi, Italy – unveiled April 1992.
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Hunter is buried at the Argenta Gap (CWGC) War Cemetery,
709:"School's Victoria Cross hero honoured at memorial move"
458:
as soon as they opened fire, Corporal Hunter seized the
392:
has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the
1031:
British World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross
217:
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175:
165:
155:
140:
123:
105:
89:
69:
42:
23:
16:
British recipient of the Victoria Cross (1923–1945)
588:, Scotland – Memorial to Thomas Hunter (pictured)
344:accurately to the last. Danish national, Major
1021:Royal Marines personnel killed in World War II
795:(Supplement). 12 June 1945. pp. 3087–380.
488:as he ran, and alone cleared the houses. Six
8:
1011:Scottish military personnel killed in action
806:
804:
802:
611:Stenhouse Primary School, Edinburgh – Plaque
292:At the outbreak of the war he served in the
1026:Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross
702:
700:
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335:, Corporal Hunter, who was in charge of a
20:
1036:People educated at Tynecastle High School
598:memorial in the museum's Memorial Garden.
304:Hunter was 21 years old, and a temporary
668:
360:Cpl Thomas Hunter's VC citation in the
7:
651:Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines
1046:Burials at Argenta Gap War Cemetery
941:The Register of the Victoria Cross
677:"Victoria Cross Holders, Scotland"
624:– Display and tribute adjacent to
14:
1051:Military personnel from Aldershot
1006:Military personnel from Edinburgh
961:
129:
110:
31:
707:Fraser, Gemma (30 March 2010).
901:Royal Marines Official Website
846:Royal Marines Official Website
314:Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
1:
816:Royal Marines Regimental site
871:McConville, Michael (1992).
643:Buildings and Organisations
1041:British Home Guard soldiers
1072:
929:British VCs of World War 2
434:during the advance by the
415:43rd Royal Marine Commando
264:Thomas Hunter was born at
897:"What is Hunter Company?"
740:"RM Reserve Depot, Exton"
586:Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh
442:group of the leading sub-
30:
266:Louise Margaret Hospital
95:Argenta Gap War Cemetery
653:accommodation block at
617:, Edinburgh – Memorial.
582:Memorials and Tributes
470:started to fire at the
364:of 12 June 1945 reads:
615:Tynecastle High School
604:Memorial Ship's Bell,
411:Special Service Troops
274:Tynecastle High School
235:
524:before he was killed.
233:
141:Years of service
943:(This England, 1997)
937:(David Harvey, 1999)
935:Monuments to Courage
620:Gibraltar Building,
592:Royal Marines Museum
552:Royal Marines Museum
350:Special Boat Service
1016:Royal Marines ranks
931:(John Laffin, 1997)
822:on 8 September 2008
327:On 2 April 1945 at
792:The London Gazette
761:"Victoria Cross H"
454:would cause heavy
239:Thomas Peck Hunter
236:
25:Thomas Peck Hunter
907:on 21 August 2010
842:"Corporal Hunter"
228:
227:
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969:Biography portal
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903:. Archived from
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852:on 26 April 2009
848:. Archived from
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818:. Archived from
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679:. Archived from
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576:Second World War
396:for valour to: —
318:Second World War
310:43 (RM) Commando
276:(where the poet
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185:Italian Campaign
180:Second World War
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767:on 5 March 2012
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683:on 5 March 2012
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649:Hunter Block –
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558:, where all 10
533:Throughout the
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322:Operation Roast
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288:Military career
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190:Operation Roast
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144:1942–1945
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948:External links
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394:VICTORIA CROSS
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80:Lake Comacchio
77:(aged 21)
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53:6 October 1923
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1056:John Swinney
981:Find a Grave
909:. Retrieved
905:the original
900:
891:
872:
866:
854:. Retrieved
850:the original
845:
836:
824:. Retrieved
820:the original
815:
812:"Cpl Hunter"
790:
781:
769:. Retrieved
765:the original
755:
743:. Retrieved
717:. Retrieved
713:The Scotsman
712:
685:. Retrieved
681:the original
671:
608:, Lympstone.
569:
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359:
326:
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291:
282:John Swinney
278:Wilfred Owen
263:
254:Commonwealth
238:
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222:John Swinney
195:
176:Battles/wars
147:
75:(1945-04-03)
73:3 April 1945
18:
1001:1945 deaths
996:1923 births
787:"No. 37127"
715:. Edinburgh
596:43 Commando
316:during the
312:during the
170:43 Commando
990:Categories
977:Tom Hunter
954:CWGC entry
664:References
655:HMNB Clyde
622:HMNB Clyde
456:casualties
409:(attached
294:Home Guard
260:Background
106:Allegiance
49:1923-10-06
636:Stenhouse
535:operation
522:objective
507:pillboxes
486:magazines
419:Edinburgh
377:Whitehall
371:ADMIRALTY
270:Aldershot
218:Relations
60:Hampshire
56:Aldershot
911:12 April
856:12 April
826:12 April
771:12 April
745:12 April
719:12 April
687:12 April
631:cabinet.
556:Southsea
504:concrete
464:Spandaus
436:Commando
356:Citation
337:Bren gun
306:corporal
256:forces.
224:(nephew)
160:Corporal
124:Service/
923:Sources
629:Colours
490:Germans
468:mortars
444:section
348:of the
250:British
196:†
148:†
64:England
879:
566:Legacy
208:Awards
192:
126:branch
115:
90:Buried
606:CTCRM
472:Troop
452:enemy
448:canal
432:Italy
341:MG 42
333:Italy
84:Italy
913:2010
877:ISBN
858:2010
828:2010
773:2010
747:2010
721:2010
689:2010
460:Bren
440:Bren
390:KING
388:The
252:and
166:Unit
156:Rank
70:Died
43:Born
979:at
554:in
430:In
417:) (
413:) (
308:in
284:.
268:in
992::
899:.
844:.
814:.
801:^
789:.
729:^
711:.
697:^
421:).
331:,
324:.
242:VC
97:,
82:,
62:,
58:,
915:.
885:.
860:.
830:.
775:.
749:.
723:.
691:.
657:.
474:.
373:.
51:)
47:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
