Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Unit:

Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

December 20th, 1945

Recommendation:
"Capt. TUNMER, a member of the 5ieme Bureau of the French Army worked up to the fall of FRANCE, on the sabotage of German plans and material.
In 1940, after the French Armistice, he came to ENGLAND having accomplished a hazardous journey across FRANCE in spite of a broken ankle.
For more than a year, with the consent of General DE GAULLE, he acted as a Headquarters Officer in LONDEN while preparing for clandestine work in FRANCE. A change of identity was arranged for him and he was commissioned in the British Army from 12th June, 1941 until 20th July, 1945, when his commission was relinquished.
Capt. TUNMER was parachuted into FRANCE on 6th August, 1941, to contact friends in the 5ieme Bureau who still exercised influence in Vichy circles, and obtain from them any protection in their power for agents passing through unoccupied FRANCE. After a bad landing he was discovered unconscious and with a broken leg by the French Authorities, and was taken to the MONTLUCON prison hospital where after two days of interrogation by Vichy officials, he was eventually released.
Capt. TUNMER immediately resumed his work, finding safe houses for agents and dumps for sabotage material. He created a lorry service between PARIS and MARSEILLE to serve the double purpose of conveying agents and sabotage material between Occupied and Unoccupied FRANCE. He laid the foundation of one escape line and its later success was due to his pioneer work.
The circumstances which led to the arrest of certain officers sent from ENGLAND brought his activities to the notice of the Vichy Authorities. Capt. TUNMER escaped to PARIS where he continued his work, especially in connection with his lorry service. One of his sub-agents betrayed him to the Gestapo, and he was arrested on 7th July, 1942 and imprisoned in FRESNES. As a punishment for attempting to escape Capt. TUNMER was placed in solitary confinement nd received several floggings.
On the 14th January, 1944, he was transferred to COMPIEGNE, but despite many months of imprisonment and ill-treatment, his spirit remained unbroken. After intervening with the prison guards on behalf of a negro Capt. TUNMER was again stripped and severely beaten.. On the 26th January, 1944, the Germans decided to deport him to a concentration camp in GERMANY.
En route Capt. TUNMER succeeded in cutting a panel through the wooden wall of the cattle truck large enough to enable a man to get through. This hole was discovered, and a fellow prisoner named Capt. TUNMER as th ring-leader. As a punishment he was stripped and beaten, and although it was the month of January, he was left for three days, naked in an empty steel wagon, without food, with the temperature below zero. His clothes were only returned to him on arrival in the BUCHENWALD concentration camp.
His uncompromising attitude and a further attempt at escape angered his Nazi guards amd he was transferred to a punishment camp where, as a result of the treatment he received, he developed double pneumonia and nephritis. The doctor at this camp was a French prisoner and he arranged for Capt. TUNMER to be transferred to a hospital where his life was saved but only ten days befeore his liberation the Nazi guard kicked him in the face and broke his nose. Throughout his imprisonment Capt. TUNMER displayed the utmost courage and disregard of personal safety.
In view of the gallant conduct of this officer, which was in the highest tradition of the service to which he belonged, his determination to carry out all tasks given to him regardless of personal risk, his refusal at all timed to lessen his ordeal by compromising with the enemy, and the fearless way in which he risked punishment by death on several occasions, it is strongly recommended that he be awarded the Military Cross."
Signed: Colin Gubbins, Major-General. 1.10.45

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 24th, 1946

With Rosette

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

With Palm

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)