Pte
William George Hinton

Information about birth

Date of birth:
24/09/1885
Place of birth:
Thames, Waikato, New Zealand

General information

Profession:
Labourer

Army information

Country:
New Zealand
Force:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
44845
Enlistment date:
25/11/1916
Enlistment place:
Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
Units:
 —  New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
08/12/1917
Place of death:
Polderhoek, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
32

Cemetery

Polygon Wood Cemetery
Plot: /
Row: A
Grave: 1

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Private Hinton William George served as a private in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade 3rd Battalion, part of the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade, of the New Zealand Division. On the 1st of December 1917, The Brigade relieved the 4th Brigade in the Becelaere Sector. The 1st Battalion relieved the 3rd Otago Battalion on the right, the 4th Battalion took over from 3rd Canterbury on the left, the 3rd Battalion consolidated in a new support position in Dead Mule Gully, behind Polygonveld, and the 2nd Battalion at Halfway House and Railway Wood, about a mile north-west of Hooge. The Brigade Headquarters moved up to Butte. The Brigade was now well settled in the Ypres Salient.

On the 3rd of December 1917, the 2nd Brigade carried out an attack on the Polderhoek Chateau position that posed a constant menace to the flank posts of the 3rd Brigade. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 3rd Brigade prepared for the operation, earning the special commendation of the Divisional Commander. Under shell-fire, 650 men from the Units carried 1,300 six-inch Newton bombs over a distance of nearly three miles. Although not all objectives were met, the front line was slightly advanced. On the night of the 9th/10th December, the Brigade was relieved by the 2nd Brigade and became Brigade in support, with one Battalion, the 3rd, in the front line.

Private Hinton William George was killed in action on the 8th of December 1917. He possibly fell during attacks in the Polderhoek Chateau area. He is remembered at Polygon Wood Cemetery.

Files 2

Sources 7

"The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own)", Austin w.S., Wellington, Watkins, 1924, pg. 255-256
Sources used
Archway Archives
http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/
Sources used
Auckland Cenotaph
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C6982?n=hinton&w=World%20War%20I%2C%201914-1918&ordinal=6&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch
Sources used
Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used
CWGC
https://cwgc.org/
Sources used
NZEF-project
http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/search
Sources used
The Long Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/
Sources used