WAR RECORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24101, 21 October 1941, Page 8

WAR RECORD

SOUTHERN COMPANY DECORATION WINNERS TWO CAIN VICTORIA CROSS (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, Oct. 19 Two awards of the Victoria Cross and one Distinguished Conduct Medal is the splendid record of one company of the first southern battalion to leave New Zealand. The Victoria Cross winners are Second-Lieutenant C. H. Upham and Sergeant J. Hinton, and the winner of the other award, which was announced in the Crete list almost a month ago, is Lance-Sergeant (now Warrant Officer) V. J). Kirk. The battalion itself has the further honour of being led by a commander who won the Distinguished Service Order in Crete, Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Kippenberger, while vet another member of the battalion, Captain C. Wilson, was posthumously awarded the Greek Military Cross, class C. Sergeant llinton and Warrant-Officer Kirk were close friends. It is learned that Sergeant Hinton was left at Hymettus camp, on the outskirts of Athens, as non-commissioned officer in charge of his battalion reinforcements, the result being that his battalion did not contact him again. Keinforoements' Work

Sergeant Hinton did not like his battalion going forward without him. However, the reinforcements ultimately became involved in very useful work during and prior to the general evacuation. Some were employed on special duty in Piraeus. Others, including Sergeant Hinton, it is said, were sent by the Corinth Isthmus to the peninsula, thus reaching Kalamai beach, at the head of the Gulf of Messina, where the heroic action of Sergeant Hinton occurred.

"A. good man in every way, an efficient, well-liked non-commissioned officer, very popular with the whole battalion," was the comment of a sergeant who was once associated with Sergeant Hinton in the battalion in Egypt. "I am not at all surprised at what he did. Nobody who knew him would be. Where he got to was a bit of a mystery to most of us." Unassuming Sergeant Sergeant Hinton's quiet, unassuming manner and generally likeable nature are quoted on all sides by those who have been in contact with him. He was the direct antithesis of the blustering type of non-commissioned officer, hut spoke quietly, instructed clearly and commanded with confidence. On the sport side he is referred to as playing some of the most clashing Rugby in matches by New Zealanders in Egypt on makeshift grounds in desert camps. He was also a member of the first of his company's cricket teams. In reference to the Greek awards published last week, the remark "posted missing, but there is now reason to believe he is a prisoner of war," referred to Captain T. G. Bedding, not to Captain (temporary Major) H. G. Wooller. In addition to senior officers mentioned as having received the Greek Military Cross, class A. this honour is also awarded to Major-General Puttick and Brigadier Inglis.