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soon as they opened re, 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 re and at the same time the enemy mortars
started to re at the Troop.
Corporal Hunter attracted most of the re, and so determined was
his charge and his ring from the hip that the enemy in the houses
became demoralised. Showing complete disregard for the intense
enemy re, he ran through the houses, changing magazines as
he ran, and alone cleared the houses. Six Germans surrendered
to him and the remainder ed 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 red at the concrete pillboxes on the other side. He
again drew most of the re, 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 nally hit in
the head by a burst of Spandau re 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