Orders, Decorations and Medals

Seven: Private J. M. Hamilton, 156th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, late Warwickshires, who died of wounds at Arnhem on 21 September 1944

India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (5109896 Pte., R. War. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, good very fine or better (7) £1800-2200

John Mallon Hamilton, a native of Belfast, probably joined the 156th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, on its formation in 1943, soon after which, as a component of 4th Parachute Brigade, it took part in a number of minor operations in the Middle East and Italy.

Arriving back in the U.K. at the end of the year, the Battalion was duly employed in operation “Market Garden”, and landed on Dropping Zone ‘Y’, at the top of Ginkel Heath, on 18 September, under mortar fire. Quickly in action in support of the 10th Battalion, the 156th lost 40 men killed on this day alone. Further heavy casualties were sustained in an attempt to retake the crossing at Wolfhezen on the 19th, from which place the Battalion’s survivors fought their way through to General Urquhart’s Divisional H.Q. inside the Oosterbeek perimeter on the 20th - and it was in the course of this latter initiative that Hamilton fell mortally wounded, an incident later recalled by Harry Bankhead in his history of 151/156 Parachute Battalion, Salute to the Steadfast (a signed edition is included):

‘We were now heading north-east towards Valkenburglaan through more open woods ... At 1200 hours, the 10th Battalion had broken clear and was reported to have reached Valkenburglaan in close touch with the Division’s perimeter. Progress became slower because the leading files were constantly exchanging fire with the encroaching Germans. The enemy suffered higher casualties, but our own were considerable. I passed John Hamilton lying on the ground with a serious stomach wound that was clearly mortal. He died the next day. A fortnight earlier he had introduced me to his wife and children.’

Hamilton died of his wounds in St. Joseph’s Mental Hospital at Apeldoorn and was buried in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.