Help deciphering casualty list index

Thanks for sharing.

I’d make an informed guesstimate that he went to Italy 10th September 1943 as 42nd Field Co were part of 56th Division who participated in Operation Avalanche at Salerno.

There are a couple of entries in various places on his record about his transfer from Middle East (Forces) strength to (British) North Africa (Forces) strength 10/9/43. At that stage of the war BNAF indicated deployment to Italy and 9 + 10/9/43 is significant as the date of the Salerno landing.

Obviously you’d need to consult the unit war diary for confirmation of my guesstimate.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve. Since he was wounded on 18/09 in the Italian theatre, it would suggest he landed with the unit during the Salerno operation. I have messaged Gary to try and obtain copies of the September diaries for 1943.

 

Hi all

Just an update, Gary very helpfully obtained the War Diaries for September 1943 and they confirm Charles Hinton did land as part of Operation Avalanche in Salerno. At the time 42 Field Coy were supporting 201st Guards Brigade of 56th Infantry Division. I'll enclose the relevant pages below.

Spr. Hinton really did have quite an eventful war! He was wounded just over a week later clearing Mines on 18/09 but remained on duty.

All the best
Tom

 

Hello Tom.

Your request:

"I don't suppose anybody could find me Hinton's photograph from the mentioned newspaper article above"

I'd hoped to have found a decent (better!) photograph than the one from the paper, as at sometime it was clearly stored folded and the fold falls right across the photograph unfortunately.

As of yet my hunt for a better copy has been unsuccessful, so in the meantime here you are.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Thanks JimHerriot, I really appreciate it! It’s always nice to put a face to the man.

This is all coming together really nicely with the medals and the research.

Tom

 

Hi all

Sorry to revive this thread again, I'm just trying to establish Hinton's movements better early in the war, especially any possible involvement in Greece/Crete. I know later in the war Hinton was definitely serving with 42 Field Coy at least from July 1941 until the end of the war.

His record starts with his posting to 292 Field Coy in August 1939. He then embarked for the Middle East in September 1940.

From what I understand, British forces has been evacuated from Greece & Crete by June 1941, and if I am interpreting his record correctly he appears to have been posted from 292 Field Coy to X(IV) List on 05/06/1941 whilst in the base depot (based on the newspaper article this was following his evacuation from Greece and/or Crete). It also says 'Ex GR' as part of this record entry for 05/06/1941, could this be a shortening of Greece or would GR have another meaning in this context?

Then on 05/07/1941 a month later, he seems to have been posted from the X(IV) reinforcement pool into 42nd Field Coy who he stayed with for the remainder of the war. So am I right in thinking he wouldn't have been involved with 42 Field Coy's role in Crete, and rather anything he was involved with in that campaign was whilst he was serving with 292 Field Coy - at least according to his record?

Does anybody know any more about 292 Field Coy's role in Greece and/or Crete? I am struggling to find major mentions of them online.

Thanks in advance for any help! I am hoping I can eventually try and establish where Hinton was and what he was involved in for the duration of the war. The later aspects have been easier to establish but his earlier role is of interest too.

Cheers
Tom

 

Hi all

With the help of Gary Tankard (thanks again!) who obtained the war diaries for 292nd Field Coy who Hinton was with in Greece - I think I now have evidence of his escape from Greece.

I'm unsure about the size of the Company as a whole, but based on the war diary the total who escaped Greece were 7 Officers and 45 other ranks via various routes (though it does mentioned some of the top group were taken prisoner in Kalamalie). The newspaper article mentions Hinton had been evacuated from Greece and Crete. According to the diary, those who escaped to Crete from Greece included 1 Officer (Lt. Maynard), 1 Sgt. (Rushton) and 1 Sapper (sadly unnamed).

Do we think this could have been Hinton - or do we think the newpaper has simply generalised the Greek and Crete theatres together since the evacuations both happened within a few weeks of each other and the article was written at the end of June. And if so, Hinton was evacuated via any of the other routes mentioned.

Would be happy to hear what people think!

Cheers
Tom