Fredrick Robert Armstrong Hynds was born in Belfast on 26/01/1893, the fourth child in a family of ten. He was too young to enlist in the 1914-18 war but always had a longing for things regimental and so at the age of twenty he enlisted in Belfast into the 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles on the 20 July 1923.

He was a very able soldier and by 29 January 1920 had risen through the ranks of Lance Corporal, Corporal, Lance Sergeant and Sergeant. At this time he had been a member of the Regimental bugles. It was a natural progression then to Bugle Major being promoted on the 14th December 1932, the Regiment at this time was in Egypt and the band under Bugle Major Hynds' command visited Jerusalem and paraded through the Holy City to the delight of the residents. He relinquished command as Bugle Major on 1 April 1936 in China and was promoted C.S.M. on 28 may 1939.

When war broke out, like many other experienced N.C.O.s, he was offered a commission and received a Lieutenancy "at sea" on the 26 June 1940. Nine months later on 12 March 1941 he received his captaincy and by the 13 May 1944 he had been promoted Major and company commander.

On D Day, 6 June 1944 Major Hynds went into action with the glider borne troops of the 6th Airborne Division. After landing, the battalion concentrated its attack on the small village of Longueval and Major Hynd’s C Company were detailed to take a position called Hill 30.

On the morning of 7 June the objective was taken and machine guns were installed to give covering fire to the remainder of the battalion. The position received intense shelling and mortaring and it was at this time that major Hynds received the Military Cross, a newspaper of the time gives an account as follows:

"Major Hynds showed great gallantry and outstanding courage when he purposely exposed himself to small arms fire and concentrated artillery fire in order to encourage and steady his men and assist in the evacuation of the wounded".

"Two days later at longueval Major Hynds was present when the Regimental aid post, where the wounded were being tended, came under close and accurate rifle fire. Again he ignored the danger to himself, organised the evacuation of wounded and refused to seek cover until all his men had got away".

In July 1944 Major Hynds was wounded when the jeep in which he was travelling was blown up by a land mine and he was subsequently invalided home. He was promoted Lt. Colonel in 1948 to take command of the 1st Cadet Battalion at Victoria Barracks, Belfast, but this was a rank title that he seldom used, preferring to be known as "Major Hynds".

He was a devout Christian ever since his enlistment and was also a staunch Orangeman and held the revered position of Deputy Grand Master of Ireland. He often related to his friends of the time in China during the 1930s when he was foremost in raising a lodge within the Regiment, much to the distress of his C.C. and Adjudant.

The army establishment frowned upon any form of societies at that time, including the Masonic, Buffs etc. Consequently he was summoned to appear before his C.O. and ordered to disband the lodge. After a somewhat heated debate C.Q.M.S. Hynds, as he was then, promptly refused and left the C.O. speechless. The lodge continued to function under the title of Star of the East and in fact paraded on the 13 July in Hong Kong.

During an almost 30 year service record Major Hynds had served in over 8 countries excluding Europe after D Day and had received the following medals:

Military Cross (dated 4 10 46)
France and Germany Star
1939-45 Star
Defense Medal
India G.S.M.
British War Medal; and
L.S.G.C.

Click on the image to enlarge

Major "Bob" Hynds was in essence a "soldier’s soldier" and my fondest memory of him is one when I met him at a display of military bands at Ravenhill Park. The reserved seats were filled with military brass. Some of whom were too young even to remember WW2, and there standing on the terracing all alone was the Major. When asked if he was not going to the reserved seats he replied, "what among all the nobs, that’s not for me".

He died on the 16 July 1983 at the ripe old age of 80 years.

We are indebted to his daughter, Mrs Gamble, for providing much of the details provided in this account of the Major’s military career. The newspaper clipping below describes how Major Hynds was awarded the Military Cross.