Scottish First Minister pays tribute to VC war hero uncle Thomas Peck Hunter

Scotland's First Minister has laid a wreath at a ceremony to remember his war hero uncle on the 80th anniversary of his death.

John Swinney joined members of the Royal Marines as well as veterans for a service in Edinburgh to pay tribute Victoria Cross winner Thomas Peck Hunter.

Corporal Hunter was killed at Lake Comacchio during Operation Roast, which was part of the Italian offensive, in April 1945.

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The 21-year-old died while drawing fire from comrades to save his troop.

He was posthumously awarded the VC for his gallantry that saw six enemy soldiers surrender and others flee when he seized a Bren Gun and charged across open ground.

Cpl Hunter then offered himself as a target to draw German machine gun fire away from more of his comrades, but was shot in the head and died instantly.

Mr Swinney said: "I think it's important on occasions such as the 80th anniversary of the death of my uncle at Lake Comacchio in Italy to pay tribute to the sacrifice that he and, of course, so many others made for the freedoms that we enjoy today.

"This is not the first time I've been at this memorial.

"I've come here with my late mother, my uncle's sister and with my father and have paid those respects and it's an enormous privilege to do that today in this situation as the First Minister of Scotland.

"I think that connection of the office I hold, where I have a duty to cherish and nurture the connections of Scotland to our past and to lay the pathway to our future, that I make that connection today with my late uncle.”

Members of 43 Commando and Royal Marine veterans also joined the service at Leith Docks in Edinburgh to remember his sacrifice.

Brigadier Ian Gardiner (Ret'd) said: "He did knowingly, I think, [that he] put himself at risk to win the battle and to protect his friends.

"There's no question of that.

"But we're here not just to commemorate his surpassing gallantry.

"We know there must be other people - innumerable people - whose names are not recorded, who are not decorated because they were unseen or there was no senior person at a recording or there was so many other comparable acts that only one you could be chosen.

"We know this must be true, but also commemorating them whose names we will never know."