Thomas (Tommy) was the only son of John Lamb Dunn, the Dalkeith Manager of S.M.T. and his wife Margaret, residing at Hope Cottage, Newton. Tommy attended the Royal High School and was a keen sportsman, a member of the school's 1st XV rugby team and captain of the swimming team.

He was a member of the 1st Midlothian Air Training Corps Squadron, where he was a Flight Sergeant and was called up to the R.A.F. shortly after leaving school. He was stationed at RAF Winthorpe, a flight engineer on a Short Stirling III Bomber.

At 1624 hrs on the 11th of April 1944, his aircraft took off on a training flight to carry out practice bombing, crashing 5 minutes later following an engine fire, with the loss of all nine crew members.

His body was brought home to Hope Cottage from where, on Tuesday 18 April 1944, an impressive funeral cortege left for Newton Church, led by Newtongrange Pipe Band playing a slow march, with the coffin draped by the Union Flag.

Preceding the hearse were representatives from the Air Training Corps, led by the commanding officer; a contingent of the Home Guard; Departmental Managers, Inspectors and many employees of the S.M.T.; and representatives of the Police Constabulary.

Following the hearse was a large number of general mourners. A large congregation attended the memorial service in the church, led by the Rev. Ian Auld.

Tommy was just 19 years of age. The coffin was borne from the church to the grave by Sergeant Dunn’s former comrades from the A.T.C. and Pipe Major M Scott played ‘Flowers of the Forest’ at the graveside following the benediction.

The grave is marked with a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.