"Hinton" ZJ 1/953

SECOND SUPPLEMENT To THE LONDON GAZETTE Of TUESDAY, the 14th of OCTOBER, 1941

Published by Authority Registered as a newspaper FRIDAY, 17 OCTOBER, 1941

War Office, October, 1941.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to the undermentioned: — No. 7930 Serjeant [Sergeant] John Daniel Hinton, New Zealand Military Forces.

On the night of a8th-29th April, 1941, during the fighting in Greece, a column of German armoured forces entered Kalamai; this column, which contained several armoured cars, 2" guns and 3" mortars, and two 6" guns, rapidly converged on a large force of British and New Zealand troops awaiting embarkation on the beach. When the order to retreat to cover was given, Serjeant [Sergeant] Hinton, shouting " to Hell with this, who'll come with me," ran to within several yards of the nearest gun; the gun fired, missing him, and he hurled two grenades, which completely wiped out the crew. He then came on with the bayonet followed by a crowd of New Zealanders. German troops abandoned the first 6" gun and retreated into two houses. Serjeant [Sergeant] Hinton smashed the window and then the door of the first house and dealt with the garrison with the bayonet. He repeated the performance in the second house and as a result, until overwhelming German forces arrived, the New Zealanders held the guns. Serjeant [Sergeant] Hinton then fell with a bullet wound through the lower abdomen and was taken prisoner.