Lieutenant Herbert Gerald HINTON
2nd Light Horse Regiment AIF
By Ian Curtis
“A soldier’s death thou hast boldly died,
A soldier’s grave won by it”.2
Herbert Gerald Hinton was born in Brisbane on 23 February 1879, the second son of John Edward Hinton and Mary Elizabeth (née O’Reilly). Herbert was one of eight children.
John Edward Hinton was born in Buckinghamshire, England and after leaving school, age 12, he followed a seafarer’s life. At 16 years, he served on HMS Oberon on the west coast of Africa.
He came to Australia in 1868 on the ship Young Australia and obtained employment in the Charleville district. Not liking the country life, he went to Melbourne and joined the permanent artillery, serving for three years.
John then returned to Queensland where he worked on the staff of the Governor of Queensland for a number of years, before moving to the Registrar-General’s Office.
Still interested in military duty, John joined No 1 Artillery Battery in Brisbane as a gunner. When he retired, he held the position of captain and adjutant. Following the passing of an Act in 1882 to constitute a properly organised fire brigade (there was only a voluntary brigade till then), he applied for the job of Superintendent.
Herbert’s father, John Edward Hinton, was known as “The Grand Old Man” of fire services in Brisbane, with a career spanning 43 years, firstly as Chief Officer of the Brisbane Fire Brigade, then Senior Assistant Superintendent from 1882 until 1883, Superintendent from 1883 until 1921 and finally Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade from 1921 to 1925.
John Hinton built the Brisbane Fire Brigade into a fine fire-fighting force, recruiting firemen and purchasing horse-drawn reels and establishing branch stations in the suburbs. John, like many firemen, had a number of close escapes. On one occasion his death was reported in the morning newspapers. Fortunately, the report was greatly exaggerated!
On 18 November 1933, John became ill before retiring to bed and he died at 8:15 the following morning, at his home in Chelmsford Avenue, Lutwyche (where he had an exceedingly well-kept garden).
Superintendent Hinton was accorded a formal fire brigade funeral. The service was held at All Saints’ Church of England, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane followed by burial at the South Brisbane Cemetery.
Herbert was educated at Brisbane Boys’ Central State School, Spring Hill. Soon after leaving school he became a citizen soldier, serving in the ranks with Queensland Volunteer Rifles and Queensland Field Artillery. He was a keen and capable shooter, a member of the Queensland Volunteer Rifles, (second rifle team) and a member of the No 2 Battery, Queensland Artillery Rifle Club.
Herbert enlisted to serve in the Boer War, being accepted as a private in B Company, (Regimental Number 110), the First Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent. After a special parade through the streets of Brisbane and a banquet on Saturday 28 October 1899, followed by a camp open day on the Sunday, the unit loaded its horses and equipment.
At midday on 1 November 1899, they marched to Pinkenba Wharf. They departed Brisbane for South Africa on SS Cornwall the same day, reaching Port Elizabeth on 11 December.
The first opportunity for the men of the unit to distinguish themselves occurred on New Year’s Day at Sunnyside in Cape Colony where they received orders to attack alongside a party of Canadians, a company of Munster Fusiliers Mounted Infantry and a section of Royal Horse Artillery. Two Australians were killed in the action.4
In a letter written by Private Hinton dated 12 January 1900, he tells of the battle.
“We were advancing in skirmishing order near the position to be attacked, when I saw eight men galloping off, and obtained permission to try a shot, I landed a pony in the leg with the rifle sighted at two thousand yards. I shall never forget the climb we had, and without a drop of water. The sun was terribly hot. I and another chap were behind a fair-sized rock, and were about to blaze away when it occurred to me to try their own dodge, 5 and I put my hat on top of the rock. It was not there ten seconds when a bullet went through it. If it had been on my head I would have been with poor McLeod and Jones.”6
On 25 July 1900, Herbert was medically evacuated and invalided to England on board SS Gascon with enteric fever (typhoid) and received treatment, 16–24 August at Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot. He then resided at Miss Bradley’s home, Middle Claydon, Winston, Buckinghamshire for a month to recover, whilst on furlough. On 16 January 1901, arrangements were made via Queensland’s Agent-General in London for Herbert to be attached to the Royal Horse Artillery for instruction while he was there.
However, the attachment did not proceed as Herbert obtained a commission as Lieutenant with Warren’s Mounted Infantry 7 which was raised by the Cape Colonial Government in January 1901 and taken over by the Imperial Government on 20 July 1901. After arranging his own travel, Hinton served with the unit from 18 January until 8 August 1901.
He then secured a commission in the South African Light Horse and served with the unit until June 1902, after which he returned to Australia, leaving the Cape on SS Yarrawonga on 18 July 1902.
Herbert fought in ‘numerous engagements, including Sunnyside, the first time the Queenslanders came in contact with the Boers. His 21st birthday was celebrated at Paardeberg and he also fought at Douglas and Bloemfontein.’8 For his Boer War service, Herbert was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four clasps: Relief of Kimberley, Driefontein, Paardeberg, Transvaal; and the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps: South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.
On returning to Australia, Herbert applied to the Under Secretary, Foreign Office, London for appointment with either the Somaliland Expedition, West African Field Force or the Central African Field Force. He attached a reference from Major CH Carrington-Smith of the South African Light Horse, dated 7 July 1902 which said that Herbert had, ‘given every satisfaction as a steady, trustworthy, hard working and reliable officer.’9 Neither appointment was gained in Africa.
Herbert then obtained work in the pearling industry, working on the schooner Wanetta as a sheller for Mr Hockings in Dutch New Guinea and later Thursday Island. A few years later, he returned to Brisbane and worked for Edward Butler and Sons,10 saddlers and leather products, which had its head office opposite the Customs House in Queen Street. He moved to Warwick in 1909 for his employer.
Herbert married Mabel Cecilia Mahony in Brisbane on 9 August 1909, at All Saints’ Church of England, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane and spent their honeymoon at Southport. His brothers were his groomsmen. Mabel was the daughter of Mr Henry Thomas Mahony of Indooroopilly who, for many years, was Queensland manager of Central Agency Ltd of Glasgow, the Scottish sewing cotton firm.
Herbert and Mabel lived in Canning Street, Warwick before returning to Brisbane in 1913, to live at Station Street, Indooroopilly. Herbert worked as a salesman, and later as a commercial traveller, for Butler and Sons.
Mabel Cecilia Hinton (née Mahony)
Source: Family file
Herbert and Mabel had four children, three sons and a daughter. Having returned to Brisbane, Herbert rejoined the militia in 1912, serving two years with the 2nd Australian Light Horse.
Herbert received a Queensland Police Commendation11 for the actions he and his patrol took during the 1912 Brisbane Strike. The Queensland Government swore in a number of defence force personnel to be special constables and issued them with batons.12 On 12 January, in Mary Street, an offender against the law took refuge in a crowded room of waterside workers and Herbert, as Sergeant in command of a patrol displayed ‘very plucky and exemplary performance of duty on the occasion.’
Soon after the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, Herbert volunteered for a commission on 20 August. He had recently passed his examinations to be appointed 2nd Lieutenant with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron. Herbert was 35 years old, 5 feet 8 ¾ inches tall, 10 stone in weight, religious denomination, Church of England. His wife Mabel and the children were living at “Wanetta”, Graceville in Brisbane. Mabel was recorded as Herbert’s next of kin.
After a short period of training under the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Mackay Stodart, at Enoggera13 and a farewell parade in the streets of Brisbane, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment left Pinkenba on board HMAT Star of England on 24 September 1914. Due to the German Pacific Fleet being active in the area, the ship was diverted to Melbourne where it waited a month before continuing its journey.
During the time in Melbourne, Lieutenant Colonel Stodart sought and obtained approval from the Prime Minister for the emu plumes to be worn as an official part of the dress.14
The regiment re-embarked on 20 October 1914 and reached Albany, Western Australia on 26 October, where the fleet took on water and supplies. On 1 November, Star of England sailed as part of a convoy of forty large transport ships escorted by British and Japanese warships.
At that time, the destination was presumed to be England. While in transit, the regiment learnt that their destination had been changed to Egypt. The ship arrived at Alexandria on 9 December, after a voyage of seventy days. The modern equipment on the quays was an eye opener to the Queenslanders and unloading progressed smoothly, with most of the horses giving little trouble.
Colonel Henry George (Harry) Chauvel arrived from England and assumed command of the 1st Light Horse Brigade which included the 1st Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales), 2nd Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) and 3rd Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Tasmania) and commenced training the Brigade.
Chauvel trained his regiments hard. ‘All day and every day was spent in the desert….protection on the move….at rest…..attack and defence…..night operations, etc ….till we could have found …..the landmarks blindfolded.’ 15 The men of the 1st Light Horse Brigade were not traditional British Cavalry, but Mounted Infantry who were trained to fight on foot.
Soon after 25 April 1915, casualties from Gallipoli began arriving back at the hospitals in Egypt. The Anzacs called for 1,000 volunteers from the mounted regiments to help fill the terrible gaps in the ranks of the exhausted infantry battalions.
Chauvel and Brigadier General Andrew Hamilton Russell (commanding officer, New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade) volunteered their brigades as dismounted units. Despite the protests of the frontline commanders, their proposal was accepted and the 2nd Light Horse avoided dissolution.16
The troopers handed in the saddlery and equipment used by mounted soldiers and were issued with improvised infantry equipment. On 8 May, they marched to Helmiah railway station where they entrained for Alexandria. The following day, the 1st and 2nd Light Horse Regiments embarked on SS Devanna. At 7am on 12 May 1915, the troops were taken aboard destroyers before transferring to lighters, which were towed to the beach at Anzac Cove, landing at about 11.15am.17
While on board Devanna, Herbert wrote what was to be his last letter18 home to Mabel.
On board transport
May 1915
My Darling Beloved Wife
We are on board the transport & bound for the front which is where Father mentioned in his letter. I expect to meet Arty who has been there some time. Everybody is quite happy about it & looking forward to some excitement.
You must be very brave darling and not worry unnecessarily about me. We are all in the hands of the Almighty & one might be just as safe as anyone at home. I place my trust entirely in Him who controls everything & pray for His guidance in the execution of my duty, that I may do it without fear, & well. We must make up our minds darling that His will is all for the best & I pray for His protection & blessing for us all.
I cannot give you any particulars of our doings as it is strictly forbidden.
God bless you my darling & my darling children & may He bless you & lead you in all things.
Fondest love and kisses sweetheart from
Your loving husband
Herbt. G. Hinton
That night, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment bivouacked in Monash Gully before taking over from the 15th Battalion which had held Quinn’s Post since 29 April. At noon on 13 May, the regiment assumed responsibility for Quinn’s Post. That afternoon and the following day Lieutenant Hinton, Lieutenant Boyd and 32 men were wounded from hand bombs. Herbert was slightly wounded in the eye but returned to duty.
The regiment had little understanding of bombs. Because the Australian trenches were wide, it was nearly impossible for any bombs that were thrown by the enemy to avoid dropping into them. The men quickly learned how to smother the bombs, or better still, throw them back.19
Following the failure of an attack by the regiment on 15 May, it was relieved by the 15th Battalion and a system of 48-hour rotation of units through the post was introduced.
On 6 August, attacks were planned in several locations including Quinn’s Post, Pope’s Hill, Russell’s Top, German Officers’ Trench and Lone Pine. The 2nd Light Horse Regiment’s task was to capture Turkish trenches opposite Quinn’s Post. The regiment attacked on 7 August 1915 at 4.30am.
Preparation activities included the taking of other objectives, the firing of a mine, the provision of artillery support and the element of surprise. Then, the troops were to emerge from tunnels.
Surprise was impossible and the enemy were perfectly prepared. Extracts from the Official History20 provide more detail;
…The 2nd Regiment knew before dawn … that German Officers’ Trench was still in the hands of the enemy. As for the bombardment ….the fire of the field guns against such a position was useless, except to repel attack. It followed that … the assault would be dependent for success solely upon surprise, and since all night long the enemy had been roused not only by the fighting at the Pine and German Officers’, but also by demonstrations – intended to cover the advance of the main columns – loyally and thoroughly carried out by the very troops who were to attack at Quinn’s, Pope’s and Russell’s Top, there was small chance that surprise would be achieved….
Nevertheless, the troops who were to make the assault, though their intelligence showed them that every condition was against them, faced their task with grim determination. …
But here, as at The Nek, the enemy was perfectly prepared. As the troops scrambled from the trenches, intense fire was opened upon them. One Turkish machine gun was shooting from the direct front, two from Dead Man’s Ridge and a fourth from German Officers’.
Major Thomas James Logan, who led the line, was killed before he could go five yards. … With one exception, every man of the first line was killed or wounded, the majority before they had gone six yards. Many owed their lives to the fact that they were struck when on the parapet and fell back wounded into the trench. … In this action Major Logan, Lieutenants Burge and Hinton and 14 others had been killed.21 Lieutenant Norris and 36 others wounded.
Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton, age 36 years, was killed while firing over the parapet, providing covering fire during the withdrawal of the wounded.
After the failure of the first line, any further assault would result in annihilation. Major George Herbert Bourne22 ordered the second line to stand fast and sought further orders from Colonel Chauvel who deferred any further attempts. The regiment all day continued to provide rifle and bomb support to their front, but it was now obvious that the offensive had failed.
The official grave of Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton.
Source: John Meyers
Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton was buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Plot IV, Row D, Grave No 14, Anzac, Gallipoli. He is remembered on Panel 3, Australian War Memorial, the Honour Board of the United Service Club, Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, The Fire Brigade Roll of Honour, 23 Sandgate Honour Roll located in the town hall, and the Booroodabin Bowling Club Roll of Honour.24
Booroodabin Bowling Club Roll of Honour United Service Club Honour Board 1914-1918
The Great War 1914-1918 Their Name Liveth For Evermore
It is worthy of note that Hinton’s Post at the head of Monash Valley is named after Herbert. ‘Lieutenant Herbert Hinton held an important post in Monash Valley early in the campaign, which became known as Hinton’s Post.’25
When Herbert embarked for Egypt, his wife Mabel and children, Kenneth, Stanley, Norman and Frances Doris, moved to live in Brighton Terrace, Sandgate. Mabel received many letters and telegrams of sympathy when Herbert’s death was announced. Mabel and the children each received a pension dated from 16 September 1915.
Mabel received £91 per annum and the children received £13 each. Herbert’s medals, Form of Commission, Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll and Identity Disc were all forward to Mabel over the following years, along with his personal belongings.
On 30 September 1918, Mabel wrote to the Officer in Charge, Base Records advising that she had a large quantity of military books which had belonged to her husband. She sought advice as to how to dispose of them, along with his uniforms and Sam Browne. She received a reply dated 10 October stating that Base Records could not advise her on this matter.
Mabel passed away in 1953 and is buried with members of her family at the Sherwood Cemetery, Brisbane. The Hinton family grave at South Brisbane Cemetery includes memorial inscription for Herbert: Not dead: Alive in Christ 26
Herbert’s brother Francis James Hinton was born in Brisbane on 22 February 1882. After completing his education in both State and Catholic schools, he worked from 1901 for the Queensland National Bank, initially as a clerk at Muttaburra. In 1909 he joined the Bank of North Queensland at Cairns and served at several branches including Atherton. While Francis moved around with his job, he was, from 16 August 1901, a lieutenant with the Queensland Rifles, until being placed on the Reserve of Officers, in December 1904.
On 20 February 1915, he was commissioned as Captain in the 25th Battalion. On reaching Egypt, Francis was transferred to the 54th Battalion on 13 March 1916 and again shortly afterwards he was transferred to the 14th Training Battalion. Francis departed Alexandria for Southport, England on 29 July 1916, to be taken on strength of the battalion at Larkhill, Salisbury Plain, on 2 September.
On 13 February 1917, Francis embarked on HMAT A38 Ulysses for Australia with an injury to a knee joint that made him permanently unfit for General Service, but still fit for home service. On return to Queensland, he rejoined the service of the Bank of North Queensland, which meantime had amalgamated with the Royal Bank under the name of the Bank of Queensland. Francis married Margaret May Largey on 3 November 1917. In 1919 they moved to Toowoomba, where Francis was appointed accountant in the local branch. Then he was sent as manager to Imbil, Kalbar, Laidley and Texas before transferring to Woolloongabba in 1934.
n Anzac Day 1938, Herbert Gerald Hinton’s brother, Francis James Hinton passed away at his home at Cracknell Road, Annerley. He had been in ill health for some months.27
Medals for Lieutenant Herbert Gerald Hinton Queen’s South Africa Medal with 4 four clasps; King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps; 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, proudly displayed at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
Lieutenant H G Hinton’s Identity disc and Memorial Plaque are also on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
‘Lest we Forget’
The Memorial Plaque
and Identity Disc
of
Lieutenant Herbert Gerald HINTON
are also on display
at the
Maryborough
Military & Colonial Museum
Bibliography
Akeroyd, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher (Ret’d), United Services Club, History and heritage notes, The Men on the Board 1914–1918, Honour Roll Great War. Bean CEW, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918, Vol II, Chapter XXI Bourne G H, The History of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment Calthorpe KD and Capell K, Brisbane on Fire: A History of Firefighting 1860-1925. Fire Brigades Historical Society Qld Inc, 1997, page 146. Clark, Major Rex, First Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent in the South African War. Published circa 1977 by the Military Historical Society of Australia, ACT BranchHolloway David Clare, Combat Colonels of the AIF in the Great War, Big Sky Publishing, NSW, 2015, page 233. McLachlan M, Gallipoli: battlefield guide Starr J, Sweeney C, The History of the 2nd/14th Light Horse (Queensland Mounted Infantry)
References
The Brisbane Courier 18 January 1901 The Telegraph (Brisbane) 25 January 1907 The Queenslander 21 August 1909 The Queensland Times 1 June 1915 The Telegraph (Brisbane) 18 November 1933 page 15 The Telegraph (Brisbane) 26 April 1928
NAA: B2455 Hinton Herbert Gerald NAA: B2455 Hinton Francis James NAA: J1795 7/442 Hinton Francis James
https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/memorial-boxes/1/object-list/emu-plume www.aif.adfa.edu.au www.discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au www.ancestry.com www.unitedserviceclub.com.au
Facebook.com Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery.
Endnotes
1 Photo provided from the family collection; a further picture can be found in The Queenslander Pictorial Supplement, 5 June 1915, page 25.
2 The Brisbane Courier Family Notices, Roll of Honour, 7 August 1916 page 6.
3 Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery; also Calthorpe KD and Capell K, Brisbane on Fire: A History of Firefighting 1860-1925, Preface.
4 Private David Cumming McLeod and Private Victor Stanley Jones were both killed during the attack. Victor Jones, a native of Mount Morgan, Queensland, was the first Australian to be killed on active service in South Africa.
5 ‘dodge’ is slang for a shifty trick.
6 First Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent in the South African War, p8
7 Lieutenant Colonel F J Warren, a corps of three squadrons.
8 The Queensland Times 1 June 1915 page 6.
9 The original reference is located in his file at the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum.
10 Edward Butler & Sons (originally Edward Butler and Frederick Rathbone) were located at 424-426 Queen Street from 1899 till 1948. They were importers of wholesale saddlery.
11 The Commendation letter, date 20 February 1912, is kept on his file at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
12 Robert Stodart (later CO of the 2nd LHR) was one of the special constables; his baton is held at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
13 The 2nd Light Horse Regiment camped at the Rifle Range. Enoggera.
14 The practice of light horsemen adorning their slouch hats with emu plumes was first adopted by the Queensland Mounted Infantry during the Great Shearers’ Strike in the 1890’s. They chased emus on horseback to break the monotony of long patrols and decorated their hats with the birds’ feathers. The plumes were worn with pride by the Queenslanders during the Boer War and the Great War.
15 Bourne G H, The History of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, page 13
16 The History of the 2nd/14th Light Horse, page 62.
17 ibid., page 62
18 The letter is located on his personal file at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
19 The History of the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, page 65.
20 Bean, Chapter XX1 pages 629-631.
21 The History of the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, page 70.
22 Bourne had taken temporary command of the regiment and would later be appointed commanding officer on 1 July 1916.
23 Brisbane on Fire: A History of Firefighting 1860-1925. In 1915, an honour board was erected at the Brisbane Fire Brigade, in recognition of firemen who volunteered to join the armed forces. Sadly, it was to become a silent reminder of the death of the Superintendent’s son, Lieutenant Herbert Hinton who was killed in action at Gallipoli, 7 August 1915, page 146. List of names, page 209. Diligent enquiries were made by copyeditor Diane Melloy to Fire Brigade headquarters at Kemp Place Brisbane and to the Fire Brigades Historical Society Qld Inc, to ascertain the present whereabouts of the honour board, to no avail. Officers at both places advised that they had no knowledge, ever, of such a memorial item.
24 Newsletter-New Farm and District Historical Society, April 2017 Vol XXIII, Booroodabin Bowls Club at Newstead is Queensland’s oldest bowls club, established in 1888. In November 2016, the restored Honour Board, which had been found under the building, was recognised as a valuable heritage item.
25 Gallipoli: the battlefield guide, page 75.
26 Ancestry.com
27 The Telegraph 26 April 1938 page 14, Francis James Hinton has a lengthy repatriation file in National Archives.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.