The past two blogs have told some of John's story. He was born in Canada but at the age of six went with his parents when they decided to move back to their homeland near Ulster Northern Ireland. Mention was given to the formal training and then advanced training up to and including several universities where he excelled in medical studies. When WW1 started John took this medical training to the military and became a medical officer with the British Indian Army. But before this happened the military sent him off to conduct further research at Queens, but while still wearing his uniform.
He would then be sent off as part of the Mesopotamian mission with the 37th Dogras where he was repeatedly mentioned in dispatches for bravery in the face of the enemy. His actions on 21 January 1916 resulted in his receiving FOUR separate Mentions in Dispatch, each being an actual medal for bravery. (He got 6 by war's end.) In the same actions he would be wounded three times yet his crawling out under under heavy fire repeatedly to dress and bring in the wounded ended up with his being awarded the Victoria Cross. The last blog brought you the London Gazette documenting of the award five months after the battle.
He would then be sent off as part of the Mesopotamian mission with the 37th Dogras where he was repeatedly mentioned in dispatches for bravery in the face of the enemy. His actions on 21 January 1916 resulted in his receiving FOUR separate Mentions in Dispatch, each being an actual medal for bravery. (He got 6 by war's end.) In the same actions he would be wounded three times yet his crawling out under under heavy fire repeatedly to dress and bring in the wounded ended up with his being awarded the Victoria Cross. The last blog brought you the London Gazette documenting of the award five months after the battle.
Here is a picture of John Sinton's actual Victoria Cross sent to me most kindly by the curator of the Army Medical Services Museum in England where the medal is on display.
The front of the VC is shown at the left, minus the bar that it is attached to the uniform.
On the reverse of that bar would be inscribed the name of the VC holder. The image to the right has the left image tuned upside down and the medal turned over so that you can read the date... 21 Jan, 1916. That being the actual date of the battle were the medal was earned.
The front of the VC is shown at the left, minus the bar that it is attached to the uniform.
On the reverse of that bar would be inscribed the name of the VC holder. The image to the right has the left image tuned upside down and the medal turned over so that you can read the date... 21 Jan, 1916. That being the actual date of the battle were the medal was earned.
The Russian government also awarded John Sinton with a medal...their Order of St George, for the bravery in 1916. The above London Gazette citation announced the King's approval, effective in May of 1917 for Sinton to wear this medal with his British medals.
For the next two years Sinton was the Senior Medical Officer posted to the Turkistan Military Mission. In 1921 he transferred from the military to civilian side of the British India Army and continued to serve until 1936. On switching over, he had a very busy year. He was by then an International known and recognized soldier, doctor and malarioligist. The year saw him as officer commanding the quinine and malaria inquiry cell at the Central Malaria Bureau and also appointed the first director of the malaria survey of India at Kasauli, then one of the chief centers for malaria research of the day. That year he was also appointed a member of the OBE.
Around this time he attended the Pasteur Institute of India. And between then and 1936 John Sinton had published over 200 scientific papers. These covered a wide range of his work from malariology, chemotherapy, sand fly species, parasitology, immunolgy, lab and survey techniques. Sixteen of these papers covered new science.
Sinton also seemed to find the time to become a Mason Fellow at the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and also doing some work for the malaria labs at the Ministry of Health.
Having finally decided to retire, he was soon pulled out of his much deserved rest, as he still held a reservist rank, and was sent off as a consultant malariologist to East Africa, and still later to the Middle East. After this he was yet again seconded as a specialist and sent of as a consultant to Asia, Australia, Burma, Ceylon, India, Nee Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
When the military final let John escape to a more peaceful life, he left with the rank, as show here, of a Brig. General.
But this was not time for lacking off.
Shortly after returning to his home at Cookstown, Northern Ireland, John ranked with the best of the best and most eminent scientists and was thus elected to the very prestigious Royal Society.
The home town welcomed John Sinton with appointments as Deputy Lieutenant for Tyrone as well as its High Sheriff and even the position as a Justice of the Peace.
As if this was not enough, he even found the time to serve as President of the local branch of the Royal British Legion.
But this was not time for lacking off.
Shortly after returning to his home at Cookstown, Northern Ireland, John ranked with the best of the best and most eminent scientists and was thus elected to the very prestigious Royal Society.
The home town welcomed John Sinton with appointments as Deputy Lieutenant for Tyrone as well as its High Sheriff and even the position as a Justice of the Peace.
As if this was not enough, he even found the time to serve as President of the local branch of the Royal British Legion.
General Sinton passed away at Cookstown on May 25, 1956. (Medal of Honor Day in the US as regular readers will hopefully recall.) Each year of 11 November the local legion holds a ceremony at his grave.
Scientists have named a number of mosquito and sandfly species after John Sinton. After a Dental and Medical facility was bombed by the IRA in 1996, it was rebuilt and dedicated in honour of John. Queens University honours Sinton with the Sinton Hall in his memory. He sat on the university's Senate and also served a period as its Pro-Chancellor.
Scientists have named a number of mosquito and sandfly species after John Sinton. After a Dental and Medical facility was bombed by the IRA in 1996, it was rebuilt and dedicated in honour of John. Queens University honours Sinton with the Sinton Hall in his memory. He sat on the university's Senate and also served a period as its Pro-Chancellor.
The Army Medical Services Museum has also provided this photo of John's complete medal group out of its holdings. This is one of the most impressive medal groups for any Canadian I have every seen.
A few blogs ago I mentioned that the British government would be creating new paving stones that can be mounted at suitable communiteis across the UK in honour of the deceseaed VC recipeints. I am pleased to note that John's name is on the list of those to be created and mounted, probably in 2016.
By the way, John's London Gazette announcement of the awarding of his VC was issued 98 years ago this past Saturday.
Another Canadian we should all remember.
Please share these blogs with like minded friends.
Bart
A few blogs ago I mentioned that the British government would be creating new paving stones that can be mounted at suitable communiteis across the UK in honour of the deceseaed VC recipeints. I am pleased to note that John's name is on the list of those to be created and mounted, probably in 2016.
By the way, John's London Gazette announcement of the awarding of his VC was issued 98 years ago this past Saturday.
Another Canadian we should all remember.
Please share these blogs with like minded friends.
Bart
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