SERGT. HINTON'S V.C.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 276, 22 November 1943, Page 5

SERGT. HINTON'S V.C.

CEREMONY BY GERMANS (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 6 p.m. London, Nov. 19. A first-hand account of how Sergeant J. D. Hinton, V.C., was informed of 'his decoration by the Germans was told by an Englishman who was in the camp at the time and who has now been repatriated to Britain. He is John Cruesemann, R.A.M.C., who was taken prisoner at Dunkirk. He was one of eight men sharing a hut with Hinton at Stalag 9C, 60 miles from Kissell.

Cruesemann said: “We all knew Hinton had won the V.C. and that his ribbons had arrived some time previously from London. We therefore were rather mystified one evening last summer wnen a parade was announced. We thought we must be in for some kind of search. We weie further surprised when a German officer arrived, which was very unusual. He called out Hinton in front of the parade. Hinton stood there looking uncomfortable and equally as mystified as we. Then we were called to attention and then stood at ease, .but the officer demanded that ’we be called to attention. .Then he addressed the parade, himself at attention. He said in German that the German High Command had received a communication from the King of England that he had been pleased to decorate Hinton with the V.C. The officer then turned towards Hinton, saluted, and asked that an English translation be made. It was all very correct. We held a celebration that night and chaired Hinton around camp.” Cruesematm added that Sergeant Hinton was held in the highest regard in the camp, both by the prisoners and the Germans, not only because he is the holder of the V.C., but for his own personality. “Hinton was a kind of godfather to the camp. He seemed to manage to ensure that everyone got a fair deal

—a thing nobody else had succeeded in doing. He has fully recovered from his wounds and is in very good spirits He asked me particularly to call on Mr. C. B. Burdekin, head of the New Zealand prisoners of war department, London, and give him good wishes and thanks on behalf of the prisoners. "