HINTON, Sidney

Sidney Hinton was the son of Mr and Mrs Hinton of Lye who moved later to Polesworth, Warwickshire. He was employed as a railway porter at Cradley G.W.R. station. He enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1914 and went to France. At some point in his service he was seriously wounded and on his recovery was posted to the 118th Siege Battery. In 1917 they went into the front line for the Third Battle of Ypres and the Battery was situated in turn at Zillebeke, Reninghelst and Bellewaerde. During the battle it received the latest 9.2 Howitzers with a range of 8 miles. These were used to give powerful support to the British attacks on the rear of German lines. On the 29th October the Battery was involved in an aeroplane shoot, but the German counter battery response resulted in a shell hitting one of the gun detachments. Three men were killed and one of these was Gunner Sidney Hinton. He is buried at Bedford House Cemetery (XXIII B D) and his name is commemorated on the Stourbridge and St. Thomas's church Memorials.