Private John Hinson

Private John Hinson, 1st/7th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in France on 15th September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.  He was the son of Mr and Mrs Hinson of West Weetwood, Wooler. He fell in an assault on German positions near Mametz Wood which was only partially successful. The Battalion suffered heavy casualties with 3 Officers and 40 Other Ranks killed and 7 Officers and 219 Other Ranks Wounded. In addition 74 Other Ranks were posted missing. ( In Great War Parlance missing usually meant killed ). The photos show troops during the Battle with the colour image showing a peaceful Somme landscape today with” no gas no barbed wire no guns firing now”. The photograph shows the impressive Memorial raised to commemorate the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Division of which the Battalion was part until February 1918. It was erected near the village of Wieltje where nearby the Division fought its first action of the War on 26th April 1915 during the Battle of St Julien.

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