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Cenotaph record

John Daniel Hinton

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Boyer, Charles Percy Samuel (1945). V.C. Recipients of the First and Second World Wars. Group portrait of eleven of New Zealand Victoria Cross recipients from the First and Second World War on the steps of Parliament in Wellington. Front row left to right: John Hinton, Keith Elliott, Charles Hazlitt Upham, Alfred Clive Hulme, Samuel Frickleton, John Gildroy Grant. Back row, left to right: Leslie Wilton Andrew, Reginald Stanley Judson, James D. Crichton, Henry (Harry) John Laurent, Cyril Royston Bassett. The photograph is mounted on card and has been autographed by the men below the photograph in order of as they are placed. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tamaki Paenga Hira. PH-1956-1. Permission to reproduce this image should be sought from Auckland War Memorial Museum and the copyright holder where applicable.

Boyer, Charles Percy Samuel (1945). V.C. Recipients of the First and Second World Wars. Group portra …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John Daniel AWMM
  • Surname
    Hinton AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Jack AWMM
  • Service number
    7930 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    17 September 1909 AWMM Colac Bay, Southland AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre 13 September 1939 AWMM 21 Herbert Street, Greymouth, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Publican/Civilian AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs H.G. Hinton (mother), Colac Bay, Southland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 5 January 1940 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
    Greece AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    7930 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
      London Gazette 14 October 1941, Supplement 35311, p. 6027 "On the night of 28th-29th April, 1941, during the fighting in Greece, a column of German armoured forces entered Kalamai; this column, which contained several armoured cars, 2" guns and 3" mortars, and two 6" guns, rapidly converged on a large force of British and New Zealand troops awaiting embarkation on the beach. When the order to retreat to cover was given, Serjeant Hinton, shouting " to Hell with this, who'll come with me," ran to within several yards of the nearest gun; the gun fired, missing him, and he hurled two grenades, which completely wiped out the crew. He then came on with the bayonet followed by a crowd of New Zealanders. German troops abandoned the first 6" gun and retreated into two houses. Serjeant Hinton smashed the window and then the door of the. first house and dealt with the garrison with. the bayonet. He repeated the performance in the second house and as a result, until overwhelming German forces arrived, the New Zealanders held the guns. Serjeant Hinton then fell with a bullet wound through the lower abdomen and was taken prisoner." VC. New Zealand Gazette 1941 No. 80 p. 1143 AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
    • WW2
      Kalamata, Greece AWMM
      1 May 1941 AWMM
      Defence of the Greek town of Kalamata AWMM
    • WW2
      Greece, Europe AWMM
    • WW2 POW - Greece List of 2NZEF POW (MS 2009/8)
      Greece, Europe List of 2NZEF POW (MS 2009/8)
    • WW2 POW - Stalag IX-C, Mulhausen, Mulhausen, Germany 2NZEF, Germany and German occupied territories : imperial prisoners of war alphabetical list : section 4. N.Z. 1945.
      Germany, Europe 2NZEF, Germany and German occupied territories : imperial prisoners of war alphabetical list : section 4. N.Z. 1945.
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
    WW2 1945 AWMM
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number
    WWII 39448 AWMM

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
    Severely wounded in stomach 1941 AWMM

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • While a prisoner of war Hinton twice escaped, and made several other attempts. He was told he had been awarded the VC as he lay in hospital recovering from a beating given after one of these attempts. Received his Victoria Cross from King George VI on May 11, 1945, at Buckingham Palace.

    Represented New Zealand as part of the Coronation Contingent of 1953.

    His medals are held by the National Army Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand. [http://www.army.mil.nz/at-a-glance/events/archived-events/op-valour/image-gallery/medal-images/11.htm] John Hinton's Medal Group.

    The Jack Hinton Reserve, 72 Bexley Road, Christchurch, New Zealand, named in his honour. AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    2 July 1997 AWMM
    Age 87 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Ruru Lawn Cemetery, off Ruru Road, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM Block. II. Plot 171. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Obituary: New Zealand Herald, 30 June 1997, A9 AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Colac Bay war memorial, Riverton, Southland, New Zealand AWMM
    • Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
    • An area next to Anzac Avenue Aranui Christchurch has a memorial stone and plaque decited to John(Jack)Hinton VC.
      This memorial has been abandoned and neglected by the Christchurch city Council.
      We are are group of ex service members and front line responders called Pilgrims Bandits.
      Our intention is to return this memorial to its former glory giving it the respect it deserves.
      We are in the process of restoration using our own and gifted resources to complete the task.
      Regards.
      Tim Ashton Public - Timothy philip - 6 February 2022 - No outside information just found the reserve VC area on a walk and decided to do something about it.

Roll of Honour

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Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of John Daniel Hinton

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  • I had the incredible good fortune to meet Jack Hinton before his death, and did an article on him for World War II magazine. Then I was the official US representative at his state funeral in Christchurch Cathedral, both of which were moving experiences.

    He was a quiet guy, who earned his medal because "I didn't like the way things were going," and wanted to fight back. His resilience and valor in battle and as a PoW make him a hero and role model for New Zealanders and the British Commonwealth then and now.

    It still astounds me that I got to meet him and so many of his 20th Battalion buddies at the state funeral. I had my copy of the battalion's official history and they all signed it for me.

    His phone book listing, by the way, was "Jack Hinton VC." Wow.
    Public - Dave - Researcher - 17 January 2019
    Report 
  • PLEA
    I am only youngster lad,leaving home twelve so glad
    Rolling over southerns ocean,baleen tail Norway's emotion.
    Gathering my swag along bag;for soon the war lunges a bayonet bow he sags
    I am not much for the military order type
    Banding selves dozen,my cascades a timely strike!
    Chasing those shelters to the house;a broken door,pointer blade bloody trounce
    I dispel these orders amiss;only Kalamata,beaming golden "VC bliss"
    Though over a gun;short shot a midriff,Stalag another I among.
    I make twice the runners escape;boxing bruises,once awarding mistake.
    Parading aside the Commandant my VC ribbon "fair"
    Courage applauded;my comrades look on a leer.
    My investiture with "Charlie" capitals Buckingham Palace gate!
    Thrice our kingly honour,medals we await
    In my memory Colac Bay;Ruru Lawn Hinton I lie in state!

    Copyright:N.J.Deller 30/4/17 "Hinton born Jack soldier storm"
    Public - Nathan John - 18 August 2017
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England. AWMM
      p. 150 AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 1 (Embarkations to 31st March, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 1: WW2 82 AWMM
    • Auckland Museum Armoury Resource Centre, Biographical vertical file AWMM
    • McDonald, G. (1997). Jack Hinton V.C. Auckland, N.Z.: David Ling Publishing. AWMM
    • Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ. AWMM
      pp. 151-157 AWMM
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
      Obituary: New Zealand Herald, 30 June 1997, A9 AWMM
    • List of 2NZEF Prisoners of War. 1941-1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2009/8. AWMM
    • Great Britain Army. (1945). Germany and German occupied territories : imperial prisoners of war alphabetical list : section 4. London, U.K.: Government Printer. AWMM
    • Pringle, D., & Glue, W. (1957). 20 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. and Pomeroy, M.J. (2016). Gallant Acts and Noble Deeds: New Zealand army honours and awards for the Second World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Fair Dinkum Publications.; P.J. Beattie and M.J. Pomeroy, 2016. AWMM
      p. 141 AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
06 February 2022Timothy philipChristchurch New ZealanndOther
04 June 2020JeniferWairarapaResearcher
17 January 2019DaveNewark, New Jersey (adopted home, Christchurch, New Zealand)Researcher
18 August 2017Nathan JohnHettstedt GermanyOther

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