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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robert Gordon Hunter

In memory of:

Captain Robert Gordon Hunter

July 26, 1944

Military Service

Age:

31

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, R.C.I.C.

Additional Information

Son of William and Christina Hunter, of Grimsby Beach, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 341 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

VII. H. 6.

Location:

This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of the village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16 kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lies 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here are those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World War commemorated in this site.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper clipping– From the Hamilton Spectator c. 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Hamilton Spectator c. 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 1– Additional Information courtesy of Annemarie Bruseker: Captain Gordon Hunter graduated from OAC in 1936 and was appointed immediately to the staff there. At the time of his enlistment he was assistant in agricultural economics at the college. He entered the army in December 1940 and went overseas in 1941 with the rank of Lieutenant. In England he conducted IQ tests at a holding unit for a time and joined the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry as a platoon commander after Dieppe. Later he was promoted to the rank of Captain and became second in command of a company.

    Details

    Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 1
    Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 1 – Additional Information courtesy of Annemarie Bruseker: Captain Gordon Hunter graduated from OAC in 1936 and was appointed immediately to the staff there. At the time of his enlistment he was assistant in agricultural economics at the college. He entered the army in December 1940 and went overseas in 1941 with the rank of Lieutenant. In England he conducted IQ tests at a holding unit for a time and joined the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry as a platoon commander after Dieppe. Later he was promoted to the rank of Captain and became second in command of a company.
  • Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 2– Additional Information courtesy of Annemarie Bruseker: When His Majesty King George VI inspected the regiment Captain Hunter commanded the guard of honour. He was president of the officers' mess of the regiment from 1943 until the time the unit went to France. Born at Grimsby, August 25, 1913, he attended school there before going to OAC. Besides his parents he leaves one brother, Lieutenant Fred C. Hunter, who returned from overseas recently after two years' service. He had been with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry also.

    Details

    Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 2
    Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 2 – Additional Information courtesy of Annemarie Bruseker: When His Majesty King George VI inspected the regiment Captain Hunter commanded the guard of honour. He was president of the officers' mess of the regiment from 1943 until the time the unit went to France. Born at Grimsby, August 25, 1913, he attended school there before going to OAC. Besides his parents he leaves one brother, Lieutenant Fred C. Hunter, who returned from overseas recently after two years' service. He had been with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry also.
  • Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 3– Additional Information courtesy of Annemarie Bruseker: From a letter of consolation written to his mother: Gord was commanding the Company during an attack by our battalion on a small French village which was taken and held. We were ordered to dig in and prepare for counter-attacks. During this, the Company came under heavy enemy shellfire. One round landed right on the edge of the trench Gord was occupying and he was instantly killed by shrapnel in the back. During the whole operation he was a great source of confidence and encouragement to all by his fine leadership and consideration. As always, the men in the Company had the greatest respect and admiration for him. Your loss is appreciated and shared by us who knew him so well.

    Details

    Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 3
    Photo of Robert Gordon Hunter 3 – Additional Information courtesy of Annemarie Bruseker: From a letter of consolation written to his mother: Gord was commanding the Company during an attack by our battalion on a small French village which was taken and held. We were ordered to dig in and prepare for counter-attacks. During this, the Company came under heavy enemy shellfire. One round landed right on the edge of the trench Gord was occupying and he was instantly killed by shrapnel in the back. During the whole operation he was a great source of confidence and encouragement to all by his fine leadership and consideration. As always, the men in the Company had the greatest respect and admiration for him. Your loss is appreciated and shared by us who knew him so well.
  • Newspaper Clipping– Source: Hamilton Spectator August 2, 1944

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Source: Hamilton Spectator August 2, 1944

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