Recipient of the Victoria Cross. Born in Edinburgh, Hunter was educated at Stenhouse and Tynecastle schools in the city. During World War II, he was a member of the Edinburgh Home Guard until called up in 1942. He went on to serve in the Royal Marines Commando Brigade, sacrificing himself to take an enemy machine-gun position in Italy. For this action he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, presented to his parents by King George VI in Holyrood House. This is now displayed at the Royal Marines Museum (Southsea, Hampshire).
He was buried in a war-cemetery in Italy, but a plaque in his memory was placed on houses at Stenhouse in 1954 and a substantial monument in his honour was now lies outside Ocean Terminal in Leith.