Corporal Thomas Bunker

Thomas Bunker. enlisted into The Durham Light Infantry on the 9 July 1929, at 17 years of age. [1]

He served as a Lance Corporal with the 2nd Bn, The Durham Light Infantry in the France and Flanders campaign in 1940, and was reported as wounded. [2]

The 2nd Battalion had arrived in France with the 6th Infantry Brigade, as part of the 2nd Infantry Division, which was part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) in late September 1939 and was quickly deployed on the border with Belgium. When the Germans attacked on 10 May 1940, the 2nd Battalion had moved into Belgium, and up to the River Dyle by late on the 11 May. On the Dyle, the battalion held the Germans for two days until ordered to withdraw on the 16 May. As the battalion suffered 75% casualties in the fighting withdrawal to the Dunkirk perimeter in May – June 1940, L/Cpl. Bunker was lucky to have escaped.

In January 1942 he volunteered for Airborne Forces and joined B-Company, 4th Parachute Battalion at Kedleston Park Camp near Nottingham.

He attended Parachute Course 9 at RAF Ringway, 2 – 14 March 1942. Along with 93 other Officers and men, mainly of B-Company, he completed the two balloon and five Whitley aircraft descents to qualify as an Army Parachutist. [3]

Whilst still serving with the 4th Parachute Battalion he was taken ill and was officially discharged from further military service on the 23 November 1942. [1]

He died on the 31 May 1943, from TB. [4]

The son of Henry and Isabella Bunker, of Hetton-le-Hole, he was 31 years old when he died.

He is buried at Hetton Cemetery, Durham, Section H, Grave 500.

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment, Transfer & Enlistment Book 02, page 33.

[2] Casualty Report Form. GBM-WO417-013-0153.

[3] Parachute Course Report. RAF Ringway. 28 March 1942.

[4] Death Certificate. 2 June 1943.