Commemorating Operation Roast and Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter VC

Date published 02/04/2025
A portrait of a man in military uniform

80 years ago today 43 Commando Royal Marines took part in Operation Roast – the Battle of Lake Comacchio in Italy during the Second World War. One of the young Royal Marines Commandos taking part in the battle was 21-year-old Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter, who was in charge of a Bren Gun group.

After advancing to within 400 yards of a canal, he saw that the enemy were holding a group of houses on the southern bank. Corporal Hunter realised that the area around them was completely open, and his comrades were vulnerable to enemy fire. Drawing fire from at least nine enemy machine guns he took the Bren Gun and charged across 200 yards of open ground firing from the hip. Showing complete disregard for enemy fire, he ran through and cleared the houses. Six Germans surrendered to him and the remainder fled.
 

Corporal Hunter then lay in full view of the enemy and fired at the concrete pillboxes on the other side of the canal. He again drew most of the fire, which allowed his comrades to reach the safety of the houses. He was finally hit in the head by a burst of machine gun fire and was killed instantly. The London Gazette recorded that ‘Throughout the operation his magnificent courage, leadership and cheerfulness had been an inspiration to his comrades’.
 

Corporal Hunter is buried in the Argenta Gap War Cemetery in Italy. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, which was presented to his parents by King George VI at a private investiture at Holyrood House on 26 September 1945. Hunter is the most recent Royal Marine to have been awarded Britain’s highest decoration for valour, and to date the only Royal Marines Commando Victoria Cross. The First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney MSP, is Corporal Hunter’s nephew.
 

The Battle of Lake Comacchio is 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group RM’s Unit Memorable Date, and Corporal Hunter’s VC is now part of the collection of the National Museum of the Royal Navy along with the other nine Royal Marines Victoria Crosses.
 

Recently the medal travelled to 43 Commando’s base in Scotland to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Lake Comacchio.

 

The story of Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter VC is just one example of the bravery and resourcefulness of the Royal Marines. Their rich history will be taking centre stage at the new Royal Marines Experience Museum set to open in the Summer of 2026. To keep updated keep an eye on our News & Stories page.