HILTON, Richard Cuthbert

HILTON, Richard Cuthbert – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWII
SERVICE NO : Q21973
RANK : Warrant Officer Class 2
UNIT : 25th Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 18/09/1941
AGE : 35
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Chermside, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Pullenvale, Queensland
RELIGION : Roman Catholic
OCCUPATION : Shop Assistant
DATE OF DEATH : 17/03/1989
PLACE OF BURIAL : Stanthorpe, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Stanthorpe Honour Roll 25th Battalion C Company Plaque 1942-1945

View Veteran’s Service File : HILTON, Richard Cuthbert

NOTES : Richard Cuthbert Hilton was born at Pullenvale on 20^th March 1906 and he was the son of Richard John and Agnes Mary Hilton (nee Quirk). He was born into a large family.

Richard married Thelma Day on 3^rd July 1930 at St Joseph’s Church Stanthorpe.

Some of his brothers also served in both the 1^st and 2^nd Australian Imperial Forces. His older brother, Lieutenant Joseph Finian Hilton was Killed In Action in France in 1917. Two of his other older brothers served in the Second World War with Richard. They were Clement Xavier Richard Hilton 119528 and Paul Jerome Remigius Hilton 119528 and were both men born in Allora.

Paul was a member of the Australian Labor Party and he went on and successfully represented the State Seat of Carnarvon from 1935 until 1965.

Richard and Thelma were the proud parents of 3 daughters and 2 sons. Richard worked at Pierpoints Store before moving on to manage Manahan’s Grocery Store in Stanthorpe for a time. Richard was one of the men who pushed Bert Hinkler’s plane to Pierpoints Garage.

His son Robert married Denise Fox who was the daughter of another World War Two veteran, Lyall Fox.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.