Daughter of Lawrence Cunnold Schumacher (1898-1944) & Ada Louise Matheson (1902-1987). Granddaughter of Joseph Schumacher (1869-1941) & Ruth Cunnold (1869-1937)
Molly was the 2nd wife of Sergeant John Daniel "Jack" Hinton, VC.
They didn't have children
About Jack
Jack Hinton was born in Colac Bay, Southland. On 17 Sept 1909, at the age of twelve he ran away from home and worked for the next years in a variety of jobs including whaling, farming and prospecting for gold. When war broke out in 1939 he was one of the first to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. During the months of training in New Zealand, Hinton was promoted rapidly to Sergeant. He left NZ in Jan 1940 as part of the 20th Battalion. In Greece, during the Division's first action, Hinton was attached to a group of soldiers who were to stay in reserve and provide reinforcements for the Division if needed. This group was sent to the Greek port of Kalamata when the Allied troops were ordered to evacuate Greece.
28 April 1941, Hinton fought his way down a narrow street, destroying several machine gun posts and attacking an armoured self propelled gun, before being severely wounded in the stomach. Attempts to evacuate Kalamata were abandoned, and the remaining Allied troops, including Hinton, were captured. Hinton spent the rest of the war in prisoner of war camps in Greece and Germany.
London Gazette, 14 Oct 1941 Prisoner of war The announcement of Hinton's VC was made within a week of Lieutenant Charles Upham, another member of the 20th Battalion, being awarded a VC for his actions during the fighting in the Battle of Crete. This prompted a joke that circulated within the battalion: "Join the 20th and get a VC."
While a prisoner of war at Stalag IX-C, Hinton made several escape attempts. He was being punished with solitary confinement for one such attempt when his VC was gazetted. He was paraded before his fellow prisoners and presented with a VC ribbon by the camp's commandant before being returned to his cell to complete his punishment.
Medals are not normally conferred on soldiers while they are prisoners, therefore it was a major break with precedent when the announcement of the award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant Hinton was made on 17 Oct 1941. Hinton was presented with the ribbon of his medal by a German general at a parade in a prisoner of war camp. Hinton at the time was being held in solitary confinement after one of several unsuccessful escape attempts.
In 1944, even though a prisoner of war, Hinton was contacted by the International Red Cross to pass on a request from the Labour Party. It asked him to consider standing as their candidate in a by-election in Awarua. He had previously signaled his interest in pursuing a career in politics. However, he was unable to confirm his candidacy in time.
By April 1945, the Allied advance into Germany threatened Hinton's POW camp. The Germans evacuated the camp but Hinton, feigning sickness, remained behind. Once the guards had left, he was able to find keys to the gates and let himself out. He soon made contact with soldiers of the United States 6th Armoured Division. Dressed in civilian clothes, he was initially treated with suspicion but soon convinced the Americans of his identity. He borrowed an American uniform and went forward to the frontline with the 44th Infantry Division and assisted in the capture of three villages and rounding up of German POWs. Senior American officers soon found out about Hinton's presence with their troops and sent him to England, where he arrived on 12 April 1945.
Jack remained in England for over three months, awaiting repatriation to New Zealand. During this time, on 11 May 1945, he received his VC from King George VI at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. Charles Upham, his comrade from the 20th Battalion, received a bar to his VC at the same ceremony. Transport finally available, Hinton departed for New Zealand in early July and arrived on 4 Aug 1945.
After being liberated towards the end of the war, Hinton returned to New Zealand where he began a life as a publican, managing and owning numerous pubs in various New Zealand towns. Jack married twice and after living out his retirement in Christchurch. Source: Army Museum https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/pdf/Hinton_BIO.pdf
NOTE Hinton Place in Roslyn, Palmerston North is named after Jack
Molly was the 2nd wife of Sergeant John Daniel "Jack" Hinton, VC.
They didn't have children
About Jack
Jack Hinton was born in Colac Bay, Southland. On 17 Sept 1909, at the age of twelve he ran away from home and worked for the next years in a variety of jobs including whaling, farming and prospecting for gold. When war broke out in 1939 he was one of the first to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. During the months of training in New Zealand, Hinton was promoted rapidly to Sergeant. He left NZ in Jan 1940 as part of the 20th Battalion. In Greece, during the Division's first action, Hinton was attached to a group of soldiers who were to stay in reserve and provide reinforcements for the Division if needed. This group was sent to the Greek port of Kalamata when the Allied troops were ordered to evacuate Greece.
28 April 1941, Hinton fought his way down a narrow street, destroying several machine gun posts and attacking an armoured self propelled gun, before being severely wounded in the stomach. Attempts to evacuate Kalamata were abandoned, and the remaining Allied troops, including Hinton, were captured. Hinton spent the rest of the war in prisoner of war camps in Greece and Germany.
London Gazette, 14 Oct 1941 Prisoner of war The announcement of Hinton's VC was made within a week of Lieutenant Charles Upham, another member of the 20th Battalion, being awarded a VC for his actions during the fighting in the Battle of Crete. This prompted a joke that circulated within the battalion: "Join the 20th and get a VC."
While a prisoner of war at Stalag IX-C, Hinton made several escape attempts. He was being punished with solitary confinement for one such attempt when his VC was gazetted. He was paraded before his fellow prisoners and presented with a VC ribbon by the camp's commandant before being returned to his cell to complete his punishment.
Medals are not normally conferred on soldiers while they are prisoners, therefore it was a major break with precedent when the announcement of the award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant Hinton was made on 17 Oct 1941. Hinton was presented with the ribbon of his medal by a German general at a parade in a prisoner of war camp. Hinton at the time was being held in solitary confinement after one of several unsuccessful escape attempts.
In 1944, even though a prisoner of war, Hinton was contacted by the International Red Cross to pass on a request from the Labour Party. It asked him to consider standing as their candidate in a by-election in Awarua. He had previously signaled his interest in pursuing a career in politics. However, he was unable to confirm his candidacy in time.
By April 1945, the Allied advance into Germany threatened Hinton's POW camp. The Germans evacuated the camp but Hinton, feigning sickness, remained behind. Once the guards had left, he was able to find keys to the gates and let himself out. He soon made contact with soldiers of the United States 6th Armoured Division. Dressed in civilian clothes, he was initially treated with suspicion but soon convinced the Americans of his identity. He borrowed an American uniform and went forward to the frontline with the 44th Infantry Division and assisted in the capture of three villages and rounding up of German POWs. Senior American officers soon found out about Hinton's presence with their troops and sent him to England, where he arrived on 12 April 1945.
Jack remained in England for over three months, awaiting repatriation to New Zealand. During this time, on 11 May 1945, he received his VC from King George VI at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. Charles Upham, his comrade from the 20th Battalion, received a bar to his VC at the same ceremony. Transport finally available, Hinton departed for New Zealand in early July and arrived on 4 Aug 1945.
After being liberated towards the end of the war, Hinton returned to New Zealand where he began a life as a publican, managing and owning numerous pubs in various New Zealand towns. Jack married twice and after living out his retirement in Christchurch. Source: Army Museum https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/pdf/Hinton_BIO.pdf
NOTE Hinton Place in Roslyn, Palmerston North is named after Jack
Daughter of Lawrence Cunnold Schumacher (1898-1944) & Ada Louise Matheson (1902-1987). Granddaughter of Joseph Schumacher (1869-1941) & Ruth Cunnold (1869-1937)
Molly was the 2nd wife of Sergeant John Daniel "Jack" Hinton, VC.
They didn't have children
About Jack
Jack Hinton was born in Colac Bay, Southland. On 17 Sept 1909, at the age of twelve he ran away from home and worked for the next years in a variety of jobs including whaling, farming and prospecting for gold. When war broke out in 1939 he was one of the first to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. During the months of training in New Zealand, Hinton was promoted rapidly to Sergeant. He left NZ in Jan 1940 as part of the 20th Battalion. In Greece, during the Division's first action, Hinton was attached to a group of soldiers who were to stay in reserve and provide reinforcements for the Division if needed. This group was sent to the Greek port of Kalamata when the Allied troops were ordered to evacuate Greece.
28 April 1941, Hinton fought his way down a narrow street, destroying several machine gun posts and attacking an armoured self propelled gun, before being severely wounded in the stomach. Attempts to evacuate Kalamata were abandoned, and the remaining Allied troops, including Hinton, were captured. Hinton spent the rest of the war in prisoner of war camps in Greece and Germany.
London Gazette, 14 Oct 1941 Prisoner of war The announcement of Hinton's VC was made within a week of Lieutenant Charles Upham, another member of the 20th Battalion, being awarded a VC for his actions during the fighting in the Battle of Crete. This prompted a joke that circulated within the battalion: "Join the 20th and get a VC."
While a prisoner of war at Stalag IX-C, Hinton made several escape attempts. He was being punished with solitary confinement for one such attempt when his VC was gazetted. He was paraded before his fellow prisoners and presented with a VC ribbon by the camp's commandant before being returned to his cell to complete his punishment.
Medals are not normally conferred on soldiers while they are prisoners, therefore it was a major break with precedent when the announcement of the award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant Hinton was made on 17 Oct 1941. Hinton was presented with the ribbon of his medal by a German general at a parade in a prisoner of war camp. Hinton at the time was being held in solitary confinement after one of several unsuccessful escape attempts.
In 1944, even though a prisoner of war, Hinton was contacted by the International Red Cross to pass on a request from the Labour Party. It asked him to consider standing as their candidate in a by-election in Awarua. He had previously signaled his interest in pursuing a career in politics. However, he was unable to confirm his candidacy in time.
By April 1945, the Allied advance into Germany threatened Hinton's POW camp. The Germans evacuated the camp but Hinton, feigning sickness, remained behind. Once the guards had left, he was able to find keys to the gates and let himself out. He soon made contact with soldiers of the United States 6th Armoured Division. Dressed in civilian clothes, he was initially treated with suspicion but soon convinced the Americans of his identity. He borrowed an American uniform and went forward to the frontline with the 44th Infantry Division and assisted in the capture of three villages and rounding up of German POWs. Senior American officers soon found out about Hinton's presence with their troops and sent him to England, where he arrived on 12 April 1945.
Jack remained in England for over three months, awaiting repatriation to New Zealand. During this time, on 11 May 1945, he received his VC from King George VI at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. Charles Upham, his comrade from the 20th Battalion, received a bar to his VC at the same ceremony. Transport finally available, Hinton departed for New Zealand in early July and arrived on 4 Aug 1945.
After being liberated towards the end of the war, Hinton returned to New Zealand where he began a life as a publican, managing and owning numerous pubs in various New Zealand towns. Jack married twice and after living out his retirement in Christchurch. Source: Army Museum https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/pdf/Hinton_BIO.pdf
NOTE Hinton Place in Roslyn, Palmerston North is named after Jack
Molly was the 2nd wife of Sergeant John Daniel "Jack" Hinton, VC.
They didn't have children
About Jack
Jack Hinton was born in Colac Bay, Southland. On 17 Sept 1909, at the age of twelve he ran away from home and worked for the next years in a variety of jobs including whaling, farming and prospecting for gold. When war broke out in 1939 he was one of the first to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. During the months of training in New Zealand, Hinton was promoted rapidly to Sergeant. He left NZ in Jan 1940 as part of the 20th Battalion. In Greece, during the Division's first action, Hinton was attached to a group of soldiers who were to stay in reserve and provide reinforcements for the Division if needed. This group was sent to the Greek port of Kalamata when the Allied troops were ordered to evacuate Greece.
28 April 1941, Hinton fought his way down a narrow street, destroying several machine gun posts and attacking an armoured self propelled gun, before being severely wounded in the stomach. Attempts to evacuate Kalamata were abandoned, and the remaining Allied troops, including Hinton, were captured. Hinton spent the rest of the war in prisoner of war camps in Greece and Germany.
London Gazette, 14 Oct 1941 Prisoner of war The announcement of Hinton's VC was made within a week of Lieutenant Charles Upham, another member of the 20th Battalion, being awarded a VC for his actions during the fighting in the Battle of Crete. This prompted a joke that circulated within the battalion: "Join the 20th and get a VC."
While a prisoner of war at Stalag IX-C, Hinton made several escape attempts. He was being punished with solitary confinement for one such attempt when his VC was gazetted. He was paraded before his fellow prisoners and presented with a VC ribbon by the camp's commandant before being returned to his cell to complete his punishment.
Medals are not normally conferred on soldiers while they are prisoners, therefore it was a major break with precedent when the announcement of the award of the Victoria Cross to Sergeant Hinton was made on 17 Oct 1941. Hinton was presented with the ribbon of his medal by a German general at a parade in a prisoner of war camp. Hinton at the time was being held in solitary confinement after one of several unsuccessful escape attempts.
In 1944, even though a prisoner of war, Hinton was contacted by the International Red Cross to pass on a request from the Labour Party. It asked him to consider standing as their candidate in a by-election in Awarua. He had previously signaled his interest in pursuing a career in politics. However, he was unable to confirm his candidacy in time.
By April 1945, the Allied advance into Germany threatened Hinton's POW camp. The Germans evacuated the camp but Hinton, feigning sickness, remained behind. Once the guards had left, he was able to find keys to the gates and let himself out. He soon made contact with soldiers of the United States 6th Armoured Division. Dressed in civilian clothes, he was initially treated with suspicion but soon convinced the Americans of his identity. He borrowed an American uniform and went forward to the frontline with the 44th Infantry Division and assisted in the capture of three villages and rounding up of German POWs. Senior American officers soon found out about Hinton's presence with their troops and sent him to England, where he arrived on 12 April 1945.
Jack remained in England for over three months, awaiting repatriation to New Zealand. During this time, on 11 May 1945, he received his VC from King George VI at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. Charles Upham, his comrade from the 20th Battalion, received a bar to his VC at the same ceremony. Transport finally available, Hinton departed for New Zealand in early July and arrived on 4 Aug 1945.
After being liberated towards the end of the war, Hinton returned to New Zealand where he began a life as a publican, managing and owning numerous pubs in various New Zealand towns. Jack married twice and after living out his retirement in Christchurch. Source: Army Museum https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/pdf/Hinton_BIO.pdf
NOTE Hinton Place in Roslyn, Palmerston North is named after Jack
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