WINNER OF V.C. WELCOMED

Southland Times, Issue 25748, 11 August 1945, Page 4

WINNER OF V.C. WELCOMED

Function At Colac Bay SERGEANT ~ HINTON HONOURED There were scenes of great enthusiasm in the Colac Bay Hall last night, when a welcome home was extended to Sergeant J. D. Hinton, V.C. The welcome was not confined to Colac Bay people, many being present from other parts of Southland, including Invercargill. The large hall was filled to capacity and it is generally agreed to have been one of the biggest gatherings ever seen at Colac Bay. There were a large number of Maori people present and a feature of the proceedings were songs of welcome sung by a party of Maori women. The chairman, Mr J. G. Leckie, read an apology for absence from the Mayor of Invercargill, Mr A. Wachner, who in a letter congratulated Mr ana Mrs Hinton, the parents of Sergeant Hinton, and also expressed best wishes to Sergeant Hinton on behalf of the Mayoress and himself. Mr Leckie said that Mr Wachner had also sent a bouquet and this was presented to Mrs Hinton by Mrs L. R. Austin, of Riverton. An apology for absence was also received from the Mayor of Riverton, Mr H. E. Philp, and Mr Leckie read messages of congratulation from Mr R. N. Todd, vice-president of the South African War Veterans’ Association, and from the Maoris of Bluff.

OTHER MEN WELCOMED In addition to Sergeant Hinton, three other returned men, Private P. Kini, Driver R. J. Kelland and Private A. Kelland, were also guests of honour. In welcoming the four men, Mr Leckie said that Private Kini had had four years’ service overseas, Driver Kelland was taken prisoner in the fighting in Crete and had spent four years as a prisoner of war in Germany and Private Kelland had served for three years in Greece, Crete and Libya. The exploits of Sergeant Hinton were too well known for him to recapitulate. On behalf of the residents of Colac Bay and surrounding districts, Mr Leckie then presented each man with a framed certificate, suitably worded and bearing a photograph of the soldier. On behalf of the Maori people of Colac Bay and district Mr J. Beaton, extended a welcome home to the four men. The Maori people were very proud of the high honour that had been bestowed on Sergeant Hinton. On behalf of the Maori people Mr Beaton made a presentation to each of the men.

Each of the guests briefly replied. Sergeant Hinton said that there was one thing he could not do and that was make speeches. He thanked them all for their wonderful welcome and the people of the surrounding district for the way they had turned out. The three mothers of the soldiers Mrs Hinton, Mrs Kelland and Mrs Kini, -and the grandmother of Sgt Hinton, Mrs Hinton, sen., were then presented with bouquets by four little girls. PROUD OF SERGEANT HINTON

Mr Leckie said that one of the purposes of the function that night was to enable the people of Southland to pay honour to Sergeant Hinton. The whole of Southland and indeed the whole of New Zealand were justly proud of Sergeant Hinton. Dr C. H. Gordon, of Riverton, spoke on behalf of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council. He congratulated Sergeant Hinton on his well-deserved decoration and he also extended congratulations to Mr and Mrs Hinton. On behalf of the Patriotic Council he presented to Sergeant Hinton an illuminated address signed by Mr A. Wachner, president, and Mr W. F. Sturman, honorary secretary. The address read as follows:—

“On the happy occasion of your home coming to the country you have served with such distinguished gallantry it is the wish not only of your own district, but also of all Southland to convey to you some expression of the pride which we feel in your valour. RAPID PROMOTION “You were one of the first of New Zealand’s sons to respond to the call to arms in September, 1939 and in the Army the qualities of self reliance and enterprise which you had earlier shown on the field of sport, soon won you promotion. “In the historic campaign in Greece, a lost battle which did more than we know to win the war, you fought with a brave company, tenacious in the face of bitter odds. It was at the end of that action, when men’s courage might well have failed, that you showed the great fighting spirit which won you the highest award that bravery can earn.

“On Saturday, October 18, 1941 Southland was filled with pride at the announcement that his Majesty the King had been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant John Daniel Hinton of the 20th Battalion of the N.Z. Military Forces.” The address then quoted the citation published in the London Gazette and continued:—“Even in captivity and suffering from a painful wound, you showed that bravery is not just a thing of action on the battlefield for yours was the spirit which preserved cheerfulness and faith in yourself and your companions through days of dreary discomfort and the galling loss of liberty. “The people of this province, indeed all your countrymen, rejoiced in your release from the hands of the enemy and admired your determination to return to action. We are doubly glad now that you have returned to your birthplace and we wish you all the blessings of health, long life and happiness in the country you have served so honourably and well.” Speaking on behalf of the citizens of Invercargill the deputy-mayor, Mr W. Aitchison, said that Sergeant Hinton had set a standard for the youth of New Zealand by his deeds of valour. His name would go down in history as a soldier who had won the greatest honour, the Victoria Cross. He hoped that Sergeant Hinton would be long spared to enjoy that honour. “I have read most of the citations of the V.C. winners in this war, and in almost every case it states that the award has been made for great courage and leadership,” said Mr W. Bell, president of the Invercargill R.S.A. “A soldier is never rewarded for a foolhardy act, but when a desperate situation develops as was the case at Kalahai, Greece, it is the man who has the courage to take all the risks and who has the ability to lead others, who is invaluable to any fighting force. It is just such a man we are honouring tonight. His gallant act may have given that little bit of extra time that made all the difference between a retreat and a disaster and may have saved hundreds of lives.”

MODESTY AND DIGNITY Mr Bell added that at the function for returned servicemen in Invercargill on Wednesday night he had heard someone say: “He carries his great honour with a modesty and dignity that denotes the perfect hero.” He agreed with those sentiments. Modesty seemed to be one of the characteristics of winners of the Victoria Cross. He had always felt that a man, who had the ability of leadership which earned him the V.C., should have a place in civilian life where his talents could be used witih advantage to himself and for the good of the country.

He hoped that this aspect would not be overlooked. t “Jack Hinton is the soldier son of a soldier father, but I would not say that this is where he got all his courage,” Mr Bell said. “When I saw him walk from the station on Monday with his mother on one side and his old grannie battling her way along on the other- side—although, I understand she is 90 years of age—l came to the conclusion that he sprang from the right stock. Let me again congratulate the Hinton family and express the wish to our hero that his civil life will be as colourful as his military career, but without the hardships he endured.” Speeches were also made by Mr J. D. Campbell, on behalf of the Red Cross Society, Captain R. J. Hamilton, on behalf of the South African War Veterans’ Association, who referred to the fact that Sergeant Hinton’s father fought in the South African War, and by Dr N. G. Trotter, of Riverton. Mrs J. Hargest was among those present on the stage.