Medals and awards

181 Trooper W.H. HINTON

 

Note: the above description indicates that the East Claydon medal was one of the souvenir medallions struck by Spink & Son.

 

 

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Bicester Herald, 16th November 1900

 

HONOURING A CLAYDON C.I.V.

Mr Henry Tomes said that they would recollect about twelve months ago the country was in a rather peculiar position in connection with the war in South Africa, but thanks to the patriotism of that country and its colonies the difficulty had been got over. He wished to direct their attention to a Claydon family, who a week or so ago welcomed home a son who volunteered for the front, and went with the C.I.V.  His brother was still out in South Africa, and he hoped they would be able to welcome him home. They were proud of the only family in Claydon from whom anyone volunteered for the war. He asked Lady Joan Verney to unveil a picture of Trooper W.H. HINTON.

This was done, amid loud cheering. The framed picture is placed in a conspicuous position, and is bedecked with flags, etc.  On these were inscribed the words Roodepoort, Johannesburg, Thaba N’chu, Paardeberg, Klip Drift, and Jacobsdaal, and also C.I.V.

Sir Edmund Verney said it was thought that Mr W. HINTON should have something of his own, and he presented him with a silver medal with Mr HINTON’s name inscribed on it. He thought there was a great deal to be said as to the Chinese method of rewarding merit; they always gave honours to the fathers; and so that night they were going to recognise the stock from which Mr W. HINTON came. A man owed more to his mother than anyone else, and he would ask Mrs Hinton’s acceptance of a silver spoon, which had the letters “C.I.V.” engraved on it, and in the bowl was a portrait of Trooper HINTON. When he went to the shop he found that it was cheaper to buy half-a-dozen, and so he purchased five more for Mr HINTON’s five sisters. Sir Edmund then referred to the C.I.V.’s march through London. He recounted an amusing instance of how he was treated in London. Sir Edmund was rather late, and having purchased a seat, requested the crowd to let him pass to it. They all said “It’s a shame; let the old bloke pass”, but no one budged an inch. (Laughter). They knew that the country wanted them and they went. They did not single Trooper HINTON out from the C.I.V., but honoured him as a man from Claydon, and as a token of their esteem.

Mr Walter HINTON went to the platform, and was received with cheers. Lady Verney, in appropriate words, presented him with a framed picture of Lord Roberts, as a souvenir from herself.

INTERESTING PRESENTATIONS TO A RETURNED C.I.V.

He [Mr H. Tomes] then asked Lady Joan Lloyd-Verney to unveil the picture of Mr HINTON, which had been presented to the library by the whole of the parishioners, and which would always remain in that place to remind those who entered the room that East Claydon had done its share in upholding the honour of Old England (hear, hear and applause).

Lady Joan Verney, amidst cheers, then removed the Union Jack, and the photo of the brave young soldier was open to view.

Sir Edmund Verney said that the portrait would remain there one of the most cherished possessions of the free library. He thought their friend, Walter HINTON, ought to have something to carry about with him, and he proposed handing him a silver medal bearing the picture of that gallant General, Lord Roberts (applause). This would remain in his possession and in that of his family for years to come, and would prove a source of pleasure to them, and pride to himself. Sir Edmund also presented the brave young fellow’s mother with a silver spoon, which he hoped she would use to stir her cup of tea for many years to come. He also handed a similar present to each of Mr HINTON’s five sisters in acknowledgement of the great respect and regard they all had for their brother (hear, hear and applause).

On one side of the medal presented to Mr HINTON was a lifelike picture of Lord Roberts, and on the opposite side was inscribed – “1900. BLOEMFONTEIN, PRETORIA” – together with a maxim gun preceding a cavalier, with another soldier at the side proudly waving the Union Jack. The spoons presented by Sir Edmund to Mrs and the Misses Hinton were of solid silver. They had at the top the arms of the city of London, and underneath the letters C.I.V., whilst in the centre of the bowl was a portrait of Walter HINTON himself.

Lady Verney, addressing the young Mr HINTON, said he had been so good as to come and see Sir Edmund Verney and herself at Claydon, and that they were anxious to wish him very sincerely all joy on his return home, and she hoped he would accept a small offering of a face which he knew well; the picture of a man whom he had served under, and whose commands on the battle-field he always been ready to obey. The picture would mean more to him than any other, and she hoped he would hang it up in his room, and when he looked upon the face he might feel proud that he had had the privilege to serve under such a good man. She had great pleasure in asking him to accept a framed picture of Field Marshal Lord Robets (cheers).

Mr HINTON, who appeared to be somewhat touched by the exceeding kindness shown him on all hands, thanked Sir Edmund and Lady Verney and the parishioners of East Claydon for the hearty reception they had given him. The picture of Lord Roberts would always remain one of his most cherished possessions, because he considered him one of England’s greatest heroes (applause). It gave him great pleasure to represent the C.I.V.’s that evening, but he would ask them to remember that he was only one of the many. He thought they were lucky to get home when they did, because many of them were still fighting in South Africa. In offering his services to his country he had only done his duty, and it had been a pleasure for him to do so.