View source for Robert Hinde (British Army officer)

{{Short description|British Army general and polo player (1900–1981)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = Sir William Hinde
| image         = 
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = 
| nickname      = "Looney"
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1900|06|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place   = [[Cupar]], [[Fife]], Scotland
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1981|07|13|1900|06|25|df=yes}}
| death_place   = [[Salisbury]], [[Wiltshire]], England
| placeofburial = 
| allegiance    = United Kingdom
| branch        = [[British Army]]
| serviceyears  = 1919–1958
| servicenumber = 10830
| rank          = [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]]
| unit          = [[15th The King's Hussars|15th Hussars]]<br>[[15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars|15th/19th Hussars]]
| commands      = [[22nd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|22nd Armoured Brigade]] (1943–44)<br/>[[20th Light Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|20th Armoured Brigade]] (1942)<br/>[[15th/19th Hussars]] (1940–42)
| battles       = [[Second World War]]<br/>[[Mau Mau Uprising]]
| awards        = [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]<br/>[[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order]] & [[Medal bar|Two Bars]]
| spouse        = Evelyn Muriel Wright
| relations     = 
| laterwork     = 
}}
[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] '''Sir William Robert Norris "Looney" Hinde''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|KBE|CB|DSO2}} (25 June 1900 – 13 July 1981) was a senior [[British Army]] officer who served in the [[Second World War]] and in the [[Mau Mau Uprising]] in colonial [[Kenya]].<ref name=peerage>{{cite book |editor-last=Mosley |editor-first=Charles |title=Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage |edition=107th |volume=2 |page=1592 |location=Wilmington, Delaware |publisher=Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd. |year=2003 |url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p5191.htm#i51909 |access-date=16 January 2015 |via=Peerage.com}}</ref>

==Biography==
Hinde was born in [[Cupar]], [[Fife]], and was educated at [[Wellington College, Berkshire|Wellington College]],<ref name="sports-reference">{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/hi/william-hinde-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418003333/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/hi/william-hinde-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=William Robert Norris Hinde |website=Sports Reference |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> before training as a "[[cadet|Gentlemen Cadet]]" at the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst|Royal Military College]], Sandhurst. He was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[15th The King's Hussars|15th Hussars]] on 16 July 1919,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=12 August 1919 |supp=1 |issue=31505 |page=10342}}</ref> and promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] in the combined [[15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars|15th/19th Hussars]] on 16 July 1921.<ref>{{London Gazette|date=8 August 1922 |issue=32736 |page=5865 |nolink=y}}</ref>

Hinde was a keen polo player and was selected as a member of the British polo team to compete in the [[1936 Summer Olympics]], winning a silver medal. He played [[Polo at the 1936 Summer Olympics|both matches in the tournament]], the first against Mexico and the final against Argentina.<ref name="sports-reference"/>

He was promoted to [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]], and then on 10 January 1938 to [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]].<ref>{{London Gazette |date=14 January 1938 |issue=34473 |page=290 |nolink=y}}</ref> From 1940 to 1942 he served as commander of the [[15th/19th Hussars]],<ref name="generals.dk">{{cite web |url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Hinde/Sir_William_Robert_Norris/Great_Britain.html |title=Hinde, Sir William Robert Norris |work=Generals.dk |access-date=16 January 2015}}</ref> receiving promotion to [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant colonel]] on 10 January 1941.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=4 April 1941 |supp=2 |issue=35129 |page=2028 |nolink=y}}</ref>

From 26 August 1942 until 7 December 1942 he commanded the [[20th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|20th Armoured Brigade]],<ref name="generals.dk"/><ref name="Gulabin">{{cite web |url=https://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201860-.pdf |title=Senior Army Appointments |first=Colin |last=Mackie |website=Gulabin.com |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref>{{rp|283}} with the [[temporary rank]] of [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]], and then from 23 January 1943 to 7 August 1944 was commander of the [[22nd Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|22nd Armoured Brigade]], seeing active service in North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe; particularly in Normandy and in the [[Battle of Villers-Bocage]].<ref name="generals.dk"/><ref name="Gulabin" />{{rp|284}} On 27 May 1944 he was promoted to the [[substantive rank]] of [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]], with seniority from 10 January.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=7 July 1944 |supp=1 |issue=36600 |page=3225 |nolink=y}}</ref>

From 1945 to 1948 he was Deputy Military Governor of the British Sector of Berlin.<ref name="generals.dk"/> He was promoted to [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]] on 12 October 1948,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=21 December 1948 |supp=1 |issue=38486 |page=6657 |nolink=y}}</ref> and from October 1948 to July 1949 was Deputy Commander of the [[North West District (British Army)|North-West District]].<ref name="Gulabin" />{{rp|228}} He returned to Germany to serve as Deputy Commanding Officer, [[Lower Saxony]], from 1949 to 1951.<ref name="generals.dk"/> Hinde was appointed an Aide-de-Camp to the King on 24 November 1950.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=24 November 1950 |supp=1 |issue=39074 |page=5877 |nolink=y}}</ref> From 1952 to 1953 he served as District Officer Commanding [[Cyrenaica]] District, North Africa.<ref name="generals.dk"/>
 
In January 1953, Hinde was appointed Director of Operations, Kenya,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://britains-smallwars.com/campaigns/kenya/page.php?art_url=postal-history-of-kenya |title=British Military Strategy in Kenya |first=Jamie |last=Smith |website=Britain's Small Wars |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref> with the temporary rank of [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|major-general]],<ref>{{London Gazette |date=27 February 1953 |supp=1 |issue=39789 |page=1221 |nolink=y}}</ref> to lead an offensive against the [[Mau Mau rebellion|Mau Mau]] rebels.<ref name="generals.dk"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://africanhistory.about.com/od/kenya/a/MauMauTimeline.htm |first=Alistair |last=Boddy-Evans |title=Mau Mau Rebellion Timeline: 1951–1963 |work=ThoughtCo |access-date=16 January 2015}}</ref> He relinquished his appointment on 31 March 1956,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=24 April 1956 |supp=1 |issue=40763 |page=2455 |nolink=y}}</ref> and his temporary rank on 18 June 1956.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=19 June 1956 |supp=1 |issue=40811 |page=3649 |nolink=y}}</ref>
 
On 1 January 1957 Hinde was appointed [[Colonel of the Regiment|Colonel]] of the 15/19th Hussars.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=28 December 1956 |supp=6 |issue=40965 |page=77 |nolink=y}}</ref> On 11 April 1957 he retired from active duty, with the [[honorary rank]] of major-general,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=24 May 1957 |supp=1 |issue=41079 |page=3157 |nolink=y}}</ref> and serving in the Army [[Reserve of Officers]] until reaching mandatory retirement age on 25 June 1958.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=27 June 1958 |supp=1 |issue=41432 |page=4127 |nolink=y}}</ref> He continued to serve as Colonel of the 15th/19th Hussars until 1 January 1964.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=31 December 1963 |supp=10 |issue=43209 |page=73 |nolink=y}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
{{MedalTop}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Polo at the Summer Olympics|polo]]}}
{{MedalSilver| [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Berlin]] | [[Polo at the 1936 Summer Olympics|Team competition]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}
* [[Distinguished Service Order]] and two bars
On 22 July 1943 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East",<ref>{{London Gazette |date=20 July 1943 |issue=36102 |page=3313 |nolink=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Recommendation for Award for Hinde, William Robert Morris |work=National Archives |year=1943 |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7361525 |access-date=16 January 2015}}</ref> and on 19 August 1943 received a [[Medal bar|Bar]] to his DSO.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=17 August 1943 |issue=36138 |page=3721 |nolink=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Recommendation for Award for Hinde, William Robert Norris |work=National Archives |year=1943 |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7361729 |access-date=16 January 2015}}</ref> On 14 February 1946 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field" he received a second Bar.<ref>{{London Gazette |date=12 February 1946 |supp=1 |issue=37466 |page=947 |nolink=y}}</ref>

* [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]<ref name=peerage />
In the [[1948 Birthday Honours|King's Birthday Honours]] of 10 June 1948, Hinde was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE),<ref>{{London Gazette |date=4 June 1948 |issue=38311 |page=3370 |nolink=y}}</ref> and in the [[1956 Birthday Honours|Queen's Birthday Honours]] of 31 May 1956, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).<ref>{{London Gazette |date=25 May 1956 |supp=1 |issue=40787 |page=3107 |nolink=y}}</ref>

* [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<ref name=peerage />
On 19 July 1955 he was appointed a Companion of the Bath (CB) "in recognition of distinguished service in Kenya during the period 21st October 1954, to 20th April 1955".<ref>{{London Gazette |date=15 July 1955 |supp=1 |issue=40538 |page=4153 |nolink=y}}</ref>

* [[Mention in despatches]]
On 1 January 1955 he received a mention in despatches "in recognition of distinguished services in Kenya during the period 21st April to 20th October 1954."<ref>{{London Gazette |date=31 December 1954 |supp=1 |issue=40372 |page=54 |nolink=y}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He married Evelyn Muriel Wright, daughter of Captain Henry FitzHerbert Wright and Muriel Harriet Fletcher on 22 July 1926. The couple had one son, William (Bill), and three daughters, Elizabeth, Cathryn and Victoria.<ref name=peerage /> Hinde's nickname "Looney" was a tribute to both his courage and eccentricity; on one occasion while briefing his senior officers in Normandy in mid-June 1944 he was distracted by a rare caterpillar, which he promptly collected.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/the-army-eccentric-an-evolutionary-accident.96874/page-3 |last=Hastings |first=Max |author-link=Max Hastings |year=2010 |orig-year=1984 |title=Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy 1944 |location=London, UK |publisher=Pan Macmillan |isbn=978-1-44728-873-2 }}</ref> In May 1947 he was detained by a Russian patrol while wandering along the border of the British and Soviet sectors of Berlin with a pair of binoculars. After explaining that he was simply birdwatching he was released with an apology.<ref>{{cite Hansard |title=Brigadier W. R. N. Hinde (Arrest and Release) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1947/may/19/brigadier-w-r-n-hinde-arrest-and-release |house=House of Commons |date=19 May 1947 |column_start=1983 |column_end=1984 |speaker=[[Christopher Mayhew]] |position=[[Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]]}}</ref> Hinde died on 13 July 1981, aged 81, at [[Salisbury]], Wiltshire.<ref name="sports-reference" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web |url=http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HINDEWIL01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210134831/http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HINDEWIL01 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-02-10 |title=William Hinde |website=DatabaseOlympics}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/major-general-sir-william-robert-norris-hinde-the-newly-news-photo/81823815 |title=Major-General Sir William Robert Norris Hinde, 24 April 1953 |author=Keystone Press Agency |website=[[Getty Images]]}}
*[https://generals.dk/general/Hinde/William_Robert_Norris/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hinde, Robert}}
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Fife]]
[[Category:People from Cupar]]
[[Category:People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:British polo players]]
[[Category:Olympic polo players for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Polo players at the 1936 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1936 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Scottish Olympic medallists]]
[[Category:English Olympic medallists]]
[[Category:15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars officers]]
[[Category:British Army major generals]]
[[Category:British Army brigadiers of World War II]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Mau Mau Uprising]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in polo]]