Jonas Hinton was the third of seven children born to coal miner Jonas (Snr), and Mary Jane Hinton (nee Fox). He was born in mid 1896 in Walsall Wood, Staffordshire and had siblings Eliza and John Garrat (both older), Sarah Alice, Roland Wilfrid, Alfred Harry and Mary Dora; all younger. The entire family, with the exception of Alfred Harry and Mary Dora were born in Walsall Wood, whilst Alfred and Dora (who were the same age and perhaps twins) were both born in Denaby.

 

The family moved from Walsall Wood to Denaby between 1901 and 1908, when the youngest two children were born and lived at 51 Tickhill Street. By 1911 Jonas Snr had moved from being a Hewer, to a Stone Worker in the coal mine, as was eldest son John Garrat, whilst Jonas himself was a Pony Driver. The family also had a boarder living with them at this time; 23 year old Cecil Booth Senior who was a Repairer in the mine.

 

Jonas joined the army, and was posted to the 4th Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. He arrived in france on 15th August 1915.

 

Jonas was out on a repairing party repairing a communication trench on the evening of 7th February 1916 when he was shot through both thighs, receiving a compound fracture from the bullet. He was treated at the dressing station (either the Regimental Aid Post in the trench, or the Advanced Dressing Station, slightly further behind the lines) and passed back through the RAMC route. He had made it as far as a permanent hospital in Calais – no doubt awaiting a hospital ship back to England – when he died.

 

A comrade, Private F Bostock wrote to Jonas and Mary;

 

“With regard to your son, who was wounded whilst out repairing, along with several more of his comrades, a communication trench on the night of February 7th, I was working about 20 yards from him, and it was about 8.20 when we rushed down the trench to find your son still on the parapet, where he had been shot, and at once we lifted him down and placed him in an easy position as possible. When I dressed his wounds I’ve found the bullet had gone straight through both thighs. In passing through, it must’ve struck the bone and cause the compound fracture which the doctor found upon arrival at the dressing station. He bore the pain, which must have been terrible, very bravely, and everything possible was done for him at the dressing station.

 

His last wish was to thank the stretcher bearers for their kindness. It was not until I returned to the trench that I learned he was a Yorkshire lad like myself, for my home is at Wheatley, near Doncaster.

 

If any account is published in the Mexborough times, we should all be glad to receive a copy, since we always enjoyed a look through the copy you used to send him.”

 

 

Jonas was awarded the Victory, British and 1915 Star medals and is buried in Calais Southern Cemetery.