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, Thiepval, France. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Hinson of West Weetwood, Wooler. He fell in an attack with other Battalions on strong German positions near Mametz Wood. The assault failed to take all the objectives and cost the Battalion dearly. 3 Officers and 40 Other Ranks were killed and 7 Officers and 219 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition a further 74 Other Ranks were posted missing which normally meant killed. The photos show troops during the Battle. The photo 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 Weiltje in the Ypres Salient where nearby the Division had fought its first action of the War on 26th April 1915 during the Battle of St. Julien only days after landing on the Continent.