John Eric Hamilton
Person details
| Forename(s) | John Eric |
|---|---|
| Surname | Hamilton |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Regiment | Coldstream Guards |
| Age | 21 |
| Death | Killed in action |
| Place of Death | Western Europe > Italy |
| Date of Death | 07/12/1943 |
| Year of Entry | 1935 |
| House Letter | F |
| School Notes | Birt Speech Prize; Musician - oboe player |
| Comments |
Letters about him in the Wrinch Papers in the Archives January 1st 1944 It was so good of you to think of writing to me about John, and to have written as you did. All you say means a great deal. Like myself, he was wonderfully happy at Radley, and memories of it all must have been very fresh in his mind when he went overseas. All this last year his battalion has had a very uphill journey, with many casualties, and the news came with little surprise. Each month that went by brought fresh and miraculous escapes for him, in Africa, in Salerno, >more> and in Italy... Im glad that he was given the chance to win his M.C. and to do as well as he did, but of course its hard to realise that when peace comes he will not return... ...there comes back to me, after nearly ten years, a summer evening down at your college when we talked and read A.E.Housman ... Ive always liked his poetry ... especially if one can feel something to relieve their finality and bitterness ... though I usually sat somewhere in the background, I thought you would like to know that here and there a memory remains... Michael Hamilton, F Social, 1932, writing about his younger brother, John Hamilton, F Social, 1935. Killed in action in Italy, 7th December 1943 |
| Commonwealth War Graves Commission Link | https://www.cwgc.org/find-record... |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion |
| Prefect | Senior Prefect |
| Military Decorations | MC |
| Album Number | 22 |
| Battle | |
| Previous Regiment | |
| Burial or Cemetery | Italy > Cassino |
| Citations | Military Cross. 'Near the Mareth Line on March 27, 1943, Lieutenant >more> Hamilton was in command of a carrier patrol. The leading carrier was blown up on a mine and all the crew were killed. The second carrier, in which he was travelling, proceeded towards the enemy and was itself blown up. Under intense enemy fire, Lieutenant Hamilton reported the situation by wireless, and made his way on foot to the third and only remaining carrier. There he organised the removal of kit and equipment from the derelict carriers before returning to our lines. On Pontinville on May 10, Lieutenant Hamilton was leading his platoon towards the village, when he came under fire from six enemy 75 millimetre guns. He immediately put in an attack and all six guns and their crews were captured. Throughout the campaign, Lieutenant Hamilton displayed great initiative, coolness and leadership. He commanded his carrier platoon from March to May 1943, and was instrumental in sending back information of great value to his company and battalion. London Gazette |
| Archives | Correspondence file in OR files in Radley Archives |
| Post School | University College, Oxford |
| Prep School | Hildersham House |
| Prisoner of War | |
| Radlein Obituary | March 5 1944. In December I943, killed in action, John Eric Hamilton, M.C., Lt., Coldstream Guards (E). He was the younger son of the Bishop of Shrewsbury, and was at Radley (Hedgecock's-Southam's, F) from 1935-1940, being Senior Prefect in his last year - the first year of the war. Few boys have left so deep an impression on their fellows. He had many talents - he was a fair Classical Scholar, he rowed in the VIII and performed brilliantly on the oboe. He was amazingly handsome, and he had a lovely voice. None of us who saw and heard him, will forget his Brutus in 'Julius Caesar', or his Attendant Spirit in the out-of-door "Comus". Fastidious in his tastes, he yet had that humility which counts no one and no job "beneath" it, and a humour that enabled him gently to mock himself (and others) into undertaking tasks that he regarded as repulsive, but necessary. He was revolted by the thought of war and its beastliness: but he guided the school through the dark days at the beginning of the war with the same gallant gaiety which found so heroic expression in the battle of the Mareth line, where he won his M.C., and which we may be sure was with him to inspire others up to the time of his death on an Italian battlefield-and will continue to inspire the many friends who admired him, loved him and can never forget him. |
| Service Number | 228312 |
| Place of Birth |
