"On the night of 28th–29th April, 1941, during the fighting in Greece, a
column of German armored forces entered Kalamata; this column, which
contained several armored 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, 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. 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. Sergeant Hinton then fell with a bullet wound through the lower abdomen
and was taken prisoner."
From Sgt. Hinton's Victoria Cross citation, awarded on 14 October 1941.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Mel
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