www.voicesofwar.co.uk
Life Story
Thomas Hunter was born at Louise Margaret Hospital in Aldershot on
6 October 1923 to Ramsey and Mary Hunter, and one of ve children.
His father retired from the military and took a civil service position
and the family moved to Edinburgh shortly after Thomas was born.
Thomas attended Stenhouse Primary School and then Tynecastle
High School, which is where the poet Wilfred Owen had taught during
his recuperation in 1917. Thomas then went onto an apprenticeship
in Edinburgh, and then joined the Home Guard at the outbreak of
war, before being called up on 8th May 1942 for military service.
He enlisted as a hostilities–only (HO) marine on 23 June 1942. He
was promoted Lance Corporal on 6th October 1943 and Temporary
Corporal on 25th January 1945.
Hunter was serving with 43 (RM) Commando in Italy in the last months
of the war. He was at Lake Comacchio as part of Operation Roast,
an action during the 1945 Spring Offensive to push the German Army
out of Italy. The Germans had approximately 1200 men stationed
at Lake Comacchio. The Commandos were to clear the lake area,
securing the ank of the Eighth Army, giving the impression the main
offensive would be along the coast and not though the Argenta Gap
as planned.
The 2nd April was the day 2 of the operation, and Thomas was in
charge of a Bren gun section, which was under attack, and at risk
of being overrun. He saw a chance to create a distraction, and
grabbed the Bren gun, he charging alone across 200 yards of open