British Groups

Lot 4044    The J.J.Atkinson Collection    British Groups

Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $4,000

GROUP OF SIX TO LANCE BOMBARDIER ALFRED EDWARD HINMAN, Royal Artillery Military Medal (GVIR) with bar for second award (966950 GNR. A.E.Hinman. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star (1st Army); Italy Star; Defence Medal; British War Medal 1939-45. Military Medal only named, impressed, others unnamed. Extremely fine.

MM: London Gazette 23 September 1943. 'In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa. Gunner (Signaller) Hinman has been wireless operator of the O.P. for the majority of the campaign. Under extreme difficult conditions he has maintained an exceptionally high standard of efficiency. Under heavy shellfire (Tibourba, Bou Arada, Heidous, Bettioura, Longstop and the Bou feature) he has always shown complete disregard to personal safety in order to maintain communication. At Bou Arada on February 26th, when left alone in the O.P. carrier, whilst his officer and Ack were on recce, the Germans advanced and the carrier came under M.G. and mortar fire, he remained on his set passing information back to the troop and was prepared to shoot the battery himself. In the attack on Merguab Chaouch April 8th, this signaller with the aid of one other carried a No.11 set over six miles up a river bed mined and booby trapped, and immediately established communications when the hill was captured. In the night attack on Heidous with the Buffs April 16th approx. his wireless set was the only means of communication throughout the Battalion and he maintained communication all night under heavy M.G. and mortar fire.'

MM (bar): London Gazette 6 April 1944. 'In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy. On 13 December 1943 Gunner Hinman was O.P. Assistant at the O.P. about one and a half miles North West of SAN LEONARDO. During that day the cable from the remote control at the O.P. to the wireless set was broken several times by mortar and shellfire. On each occasion Gnr Hinman went out along the line and mended the break. He did this in spite of continuous mortar, shellfire and sniping. He showed great coolness and gallantry with complete disregard of his own safety. He also located several enemy snipers and strong points, pointing them out accurately and quickly to his O.P. officer so that they could be dealt with. Gnr Hinman's gallantry and resource had an important effect on the fire support of the attacks North West of the R. MORRO. His devotion to duty was directly responsible for efficient communication to the guns.'

Together with copies of the original recommendations for both awards; Buckingham Palace congratulatory forwarding slip; stars and medals entitlement slip; signal to unit advising award; medal envelope and box; congratulatory letter; photograph of recipient; newspaper cuttings and two cloth formation badges.