Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine series of hand written journals appertaining to Flight Lieutenant George Hindmarch, Royal Artillery, seconded Royal Air Force, who flew operationally in Spitfires of No. 2 Squadron and Mustangs of No. 4 Squadron, comprising Volume I (travels in England, Wales and Ireland, 1935-37), approx. 190pp.; Volume II (further travels, 1937-39, but also including Ireland on leave in October 1941 and July 1945), approx. 220pp.; Volume III (early wartime career, August 1939 and transfer to the B.E.F. in France), approx. 240pp.; Volume IV (active service with the B.E.F. in May-June 1940, up until his evacuation from Dunkirk, also including much additional - often scathing commentary - about the conduct of the campaign), approx. 230pp.; Volume V (post-Dunkirk soldiering in the U.K., including attendance at an O.T.C.U., up until his secondment to the R.A.F. in August 1941); Volume VI (R.A.F. pilot training, up until his posting to No. 4 Squadron circa July 1942), approx. 200pp., together with a fine studio portrait photograph, in his R.A. uniform, with his embroidered R.A.F. Wings on lower mount, his wristwatch, R.A. lapel badges and cuff links, and a name stamp, ‘George Hindmarch’, these latter contained in an old soap tin, generally in good condition and the B.E.F. journal (Volume IV) of particular interest, comprising a hitherto unpublished account of a member of “Frankforce” in the bitter fighting at Arras and beyond (Lot) £180-220

George Hindmarch, who was born in Camberwell, London in 1916, was a pre-war Territorial soldier in ‘A’ Troop, 365 Battery, 92nd (London) Field Regiment, R.A., in which capacity he served with the B.E.F. in 1940, when his unit acted in support of 13th and 17th Brigades in Major-General Franklyn’s 5th Division. He and his comrades - part of “Frankforce” - played a crucial role in the battle of Arras, compelling von Rundstedt to halt his motorised and armoured columns, including the Totenkopf and Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler S.S. Divisions on 24 May, thereby allowing the Allies vital time to put up defensive lines around Dunkirk. Accordingly, Hindmarch’s relevant journal makes compelling reading, covering as it does all aspects of the retreat to Dunkirk - constant air attack, his guns in action at close range, columns of refugees, burning vehicles, and the final stand on the beaches until picked up by a destroyer. So, too, details of casualties, including 365 Battery’s C.O., Major Derek Cragg-Hamilton, and his best friend, Gunner George Russell, also from Camberwell, who was awarded the M.M. - both men were killed in action on 31 May 1940.

As stated above, Hindmarch was seconded to the Royal Air Force in August 1941 and, having obtained his “Wings” and been commissioned as a Pilot Officer in July 1942, was posted to No. 4 Squadron, then operating out of Clifton in Mustangs on coastal patrols. On 15 January 1943, on returning to base, Hindmarch’s aircraft suffered engine failure and he undershot the runway, hitting a lorry near the Bumper Castle public house before crash-landing on the airfield’s perimeter - he emerged unscathed from the wreckage of Mustang AG-541, but the lorry driver was killed. Having then undertaken a stint of duty as an instructor at Hawarden, he returned to active service with No. 2 Squadron, this time flying Spitfires in a reconnaissance role in 2nd Tactical Air Force, and was likely involved in the Squadrons valuable work over Normandy and Arnhem. He ended the War as a Flight Lieutenant, with seniority dating from July 1944.