Orders, Decorations and Medals

A most unusual group to the three Hamilton brothers, all of whom were killed or died in the Boer War:

Lieutenant Alastair Hamilton, Royal Irish Fusiliers, wounded in the action at Pieter’s Hill and later killed by lightening at Machadodorp
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (Lieut: A. Hamilton, Rl. Irish Fus:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. A. Hamilton. Rl. Irish Fus.)

Trooper Kenneth Hamilton, Ceylon Mounted Infantry, who died of Enteric at Bloemfontein
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Driefontein (299 Trpr: K. Hamilton, Ceylon M.I.)

Trooper Ernest Hamilton, Bethune’s Mounted Infantry, killed in action at Sheeper’s Nek
Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, all contained in an attractive contemporary fitted leather break-front display case with ivorine name labels, extremely fine (4) £3000-3500

Lieutenant Alastair Hamilton was wounded in the fierce fighting at Pieter’s Hill on 27 February 1900, the capture of which cleared the way for the relief of Ladysmith by the cavalry the following day. His medals are accompanied by a contemporary hand-written transcript of a letter to his mother, written during the action whilst he lay wounded, describing the attack:

‘My dear Mother

We advanced today about 9 a.m. to take a hill to our front, which we did without much trouble, only losing a few men.
About 5.15 p.m. we advanced to take a small hill to our right which was strongly held. The Dublin Fusiliers being unable to manage it, we had to advance about half a mile over an open space under a heavy fire. A shell burst about ten yards from me and knocked over one of the men, but he was not hurt. We lay down to get our wind and a shell hit the handle of my knob carry and smashed the knob in three places and made a great gravel rush in my wrist, but there was not much blood.
Then we advanced about 700 yards to a small kopie where the D.F’s were. We again rested, then we advanced over another open bit and about half way I was hit in the ankle, at about 6 p.m., and am now lagging behind and am with bullets dropping round me pretty thick. The Company is about 100 yards in front under a stone wall. We were first in, and no one else has gone in passed me, but now they come. I was afraid they were going to give it up, but they are going up splendidly under a heavy fire. I am not 500 yards from the hill it is hard not to be able to go in as I had hoped, but no such luck. I am not in much pain, but hope I shall not have to crawl in, as I do not think the bullet came out as there is only one hole in my boot, so the least movement hurts a bit. We seem to be making a turning movement there are a lot of our men returning on my right under a heavy fire which makes a cross fire for me, I shall not be hit again I feel sure, but the bullets throw dust and stones over me every now and then. I expect you will get a wire tonight, I hope they will only put slight, as I am sure it is not bad. The evening star has just come out, so it will soon be dark, we must be doing well as the firing is not nearly so heavy, but may break out again at any moment. I am very sick at being hit, but must make the best of it. I think we are getting in but I wish I could hear them cheer. Well it is getting dark and the firing less and our men out of sight. I shall soon make tracks and hope soon to fall in with the stretcher bearers so good bye. 7 p.m.’

Alastair Hamilton was killed by lightning at Machadodorp on 5 December 1902.

Trooper Kenneth Hamilton, Ceylon Contingent, died of enteric at Bloemfontein on 13 May 1900.

Trooper Ernest Hamilton, H Squadron, Bethune’s Mounted Infantry, was killed in action at Sheeper’s Nek on 20 May 1900.

There is a marble cross in the cemetery at Machadodorp dedicated to these three brothers:

"In loving memory Alistair Hamilton, late Royal Irish Fusiliers. Killed by lightning Dec. 5th 1902. Aged 28 years.

Also of Ernest. Killed in Action at Vryheid May 20th 1900. Aged 22 years.

Also of Kenneth. Died at Bloemfontein May 16th 1900. Aged 24 years.”

This group is also accompanied by a contemporary cutting from the Black and White Budget, or similar, with portrait photographs of “Four Fighting Brother”. The fourth brother was Sub-Inspector J. Hamilton, Natal Mounted Police. There was a fifth brother, Patrick, a Captain in the Worcestershire Regiment and Royal Flying Corps, who was killed on flying manoeuvres during Military Trials, when his machine fell from some 500 feet in Graveley, near Stevenage, Herts, on 6 September 1912. He was aged 30 years.