Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Warrant Officer 1st Class

Unit:

17th Canadian Field Regiment RCA, 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

June 13th, 1946

"On the night of 16/17 April 1945, Regimental Sergeant-Major Gunter was acting as Regimental Sergeant-Major to 17 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. The regiment, in support of 11 Canadian Infantry Brigade, had deployed in the early evening in the area of Otterloo, Holland. As the enemy had not been completely cleared of the vicinity, all units were required to take active measures for their own local defence. At the regimental headquarters, this responsibility fell to Sergeant-Major Gunter. At about midnight warning was received that enemy troops were detected infiltrating through the gun position and by 0005 hours 17 April 1945, they had reached the immediate area of the regimental headquarters. While the battery personnel were heavily involved with protecting their guns, this Warrant Officer coordinated and deployed his own men at the headquarters. In addition he organized a system of runners to maintain contact with the batteries as radio and telephone communications were partly disrupted and undependable. At the same time he arranged and supervised the collection of enemy prisoners captured by the batteries as well as our own wounded. Sergeant-Major Gunter's control of the situation at regimental headquarters, his calmness of manner and disregard for his own personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Canadian Artillery, and were instru­mental in preventing the enemy from over­running the position."