HOW HE WON V.C.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 269, 12 November 1943, Page 4

HOW HE WON V.C.

SGT. HINTON'S DEED DEFIED GREAT ODDS (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, Nov. 8. One of the most interesting biographies and factual accounts of prison life under the Germans in this war, is that of Major G. H. Thomson, of New Plymouth, a medical officer, who was captured near Kalamata, Greece, late in April, 1941. Major Thomson, who recommended Sergeant J. D Hinton, of Colac Bay, Southland, for the Victoria Cross from a German prison camp, witnessed many phases of German treatment of prisoners. Of the New Zealanders remaining in prison camps, Major Thomson says the condition of 90 per cent was quite good, in fact, almost normal, thanks entirely to Red Cross parcels, and he had no doubt about their future health. Though this officer was reluctant to talk, he has a great story to tell. Major Thomson remained with wounded near Kalamata as the division fought its rearguard actions, and surrendered to an enemy advance party. "The officer commanding this vanguard was rather decent," said Major Thomson. "I surrendered to him. He sent me in one of his trucks, so I travelled 10 miles to Kalamata with the enemy." Describing Sergeant Hinton's courageous stand against all odds as a small Allied party was trapped, Major Thomson said: "I could see some of our soldiers not far away from the truck in Avhich I was travelling. There was quite a lot of noise and movement. Firing broke out as a German party drew near, and I heard a British officer's voice shouting: 'Take cover, men; take cover.' I heard another voice yelling: 'To hell with all this take cover. Who's coming with me?'

Sergeant Hinton appeared with a rifle and bayonet and hand grenades. With a small party, perhaps a dozen men, he came at the Germans who fired a two-pounder gun at him at point-blank range, but missed. The Huns ran Into several houses. Sergeant Hinton burst in the door of the first house, throwing hand grenades. Then he led his men inside with baj'onets. A shambles must have followed his entry, because when he came out his bayonet was literally dripping with blood. "With his men behind him he raced across to the next house. Some men fell out, but Sergeant Hinton and the remainder cleaned up a second house, and it was when he was still pursuing Germans running down the road that he was shot in the abdomen." Major Thomson jumped from the truck and started across to Sergeant Hinton, but was fired on by a British party, who later explained that they thought Major Thomson was a German in British uniform. Major Thomson had Sergeant Hinton lifted on to a truck and taken to hospital. Major Thomson says he saw Sergeant Hinton no more than a fortnight ago, immediately before leaving Germany. Sergeant ' Hinton, who was camped at Hulhausen, refuses to be boarded on the ground that he is likely to be graded, and this would make him a non-combatant. He is anxious to "get cracking again." He looks well. Men Buried with Honours While in the vicinity of Kalamata Major Thomson organised a hospital for Allied wounded, and had German assistance in its operation. He would like it to be known that every man killed or who died at Kalamata was buried correctly with honours in a small plot of land at the back of the town, which forms a last war memorial. He acted as padre, and says that all graves are properly recorded, while Greeks promised TO look after them until the Allies are there again. Major Thomson later was at Piraeus with a composite hospital staff, and it was here that British, New Zealand and Australian wounded were evacuated from Crete. Early in June, 1941, Major Thomson, at the enemy's request, opened a hospital near Polytechnic, Athens. He had several New Zealand medical officers with him, in addition to British and Australians, and also a New Zealand and Australian staff. Padre R. J. Griffiths, Second N.Z.E.F., was also there. The courage, cheerfulness and great spiritual comfort rendered by all New Zealand padres now prisoners in Germany were lauded by all repatriated men. Particularly reference is made to the Rev. R. J. Hiddlestone, of Auckland, who is stated to have volunteered to stay with "his boys." Tributes are also paid to the work of Mr. John Ledgerwood of the Y.M.C.A., of Hamilton, and formerly of New Plymouth, who is camped at Stalag 18, A, Wolfsburg, near Gratz.