POPULAR WINNER OF V.C.

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 3

POPULAR WINNER OF V.C.

Sergeant J. D. Hinton

“We always said on the Coast that Jack Hinton was as good a sportsman off the field as he was on it. It’s not really surprising that he has won a V.C.” This tribute to Sergeant J. D. Hinton, V.C., of Colac Bay, was paid by a soldier who knew him in Hari Hari and Greymouth for three years before the war, states an article published in The N.Z.E.F. Times. The soldier explained that he used to cart supplies to the Public Works bush camp where Sergeant Hinton was in charge of about 30 men working on a road construction job near Hari Hari. The road was being built through heavy bush and swamp country, making the job a difficult one. “I knew Jack fairly well,” the soldier added, “and I also knew some of the men on the job. They all said he was one of the best bosses they had worked for. He was a very quiet type, but was well known and popular on the Coast.” WORK AT BRUCE BAY Later, Sergeant Hinton was in charge of a job at Bruce Bay, where a road was being built through to the Haast Pass. While starting a bulldozer one morning he broke his arm and was unable to undertake heavy work for some time. He was transferred to the Public Works Department office in Greymouth where he was employed until war broke out. “Jack was the kind of person who would take off his coat and work with the men,” said the soldier. “Some times, when I arrived out at the Hari Hari camp with the supplies, I could see one of the men just doing odd jobs about the camp. It usually turned out that he had been feeling ill and Jack had found some light work for him to do. That’s what he was like. “I remember one day when I arrived out he was in camp doing his books. He asked me to stay for lunch. —he never let anyone go away without a meal or a cup of tea. Well, after dinner, Jack said he was going out to catch a few whitebait. Just something fresh for the boys’ tea, he said. “I have often played football against Jack. He was very keen on Rugby and tennis and a good sport. He was hurt while playing football for Hari Hari, and after that he coached the team.

“When I was home on final leave last Christmas, I met Jack’s brother, Charlie Hinton, who was at that time working in a battery at a quartz mine at Reefton.”