WOUNDED OFFICER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20629, 9 August 1941, Page 9

WOUNDED OFFICER

PRISONER IN GREECE GALLANT STAND IN CRETE Previously reported wounded and missing, Captain R. S. Sinclair, of Te Awamutu, has now been officially reported a prisoner of war in a hospital in Greece. A letter has been received from Captain L. I. Day, of Hamilton, an officer of Captain Sinclair’s regiment, relating the gallant stand made by his company during the invasion of Crete. “Captain Sinclair was wounded on May 25 at Galatos,” says Captain Day. “His company was holding a line running south, about 500yds. inland from the sea. It straddled the coast road, and the enemy put the full weight of his attack through that area. The company received instructions to hold the position as long as possible —in other words, to the last man—and the brigadier is very proud of the bravery and determination of those gallant lads in the wonderful show they put up.

“The line held was the forward slope of a hill, and this was blasted steadily lor 24 hours by the enemy with artillery, mortars, machine-guns and aeroplanes before they finally captured it. All that remained of the company were the headquarters, who were situated on the reverse slopes, and also such wounded as had been previously evacuated. “Captain Sinclair was wounded in the thigh at 4.30 p.m. from a machinegun bullet while crawling forward to his observation post. He was carried out to the regimental first aid post, bandaged, and sent on a truck back to the dressing station, and that is the last we have been able to find out about him, although we do know that his wound, in itself, was not serious. ’ Captain Sinclair was president of the Waipa Rugby Union, and left with the rank of lieutenant. He was promoted in Egypt, and went through the campaign in Greece. He is a son of Mr. A, J. Sinclair, secretary-manager of the Te Awamutu Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited.