Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Operation Market’ D.F.C. and Second Award Bar, A.F.C. group of six awarded to Wing Commander J. S. Hamilton, Royal Air Force, who, flying Beaufighters, shot down a Dornier 217 in 1942; after a year as an Instructor, for which he was awarded the A.F.C., he returned to operational duties in 1944 with 613 Squadron, flying Mosquitos, and took part in the daylight attack on the barracks at Arnhem in support of Operation Market Garden in September 1944, seeing out the the War as Wing Commander of 138 Wing

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1945, with Second Award Bar, the reverse officially dated 1945; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1944; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £4,000-£5,000

D.F.C. London Gazette 13 February 1945.
The original Recommendation states: ‘This officer completed his first tour of duty in 1942. In the course of operations in night fighters he destroyed a Dornier 217. He has taken part in a large number of attacks on enemy troop concentrations and communications, including the daylight attack on the barracks at Arnhem in support of the airborne landings in September 1944, and several effective sorties against targets in the battle area.’

D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 2 October 1945.
The original Recommendation states: ‘This officer has flown on many low level attacks against the enemy’s line of communication, during which he has inflicted considerable damage on the enemy’s mechanical transports, locomotive, and rolling stock. By his high standard of courage and leadership, Wing Commander Hamilton has materially contributed to the operational efficiency of his wing.’

A.F.C. London Gazette 5 May 1944.

John Stewart Hamilton was born at Drayton on 1 September 1911 and was commissioned in the Royal Air Force in 1929. Promoted Flying Officer on 12 March 1931, he transferred to the Reserve of Air Force Officers on 30 November 1934, and relinquishing his commission on 30 July 1938.

Re-commissioned Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on 6 April 1939, Hamilton was promoted Flying Officer on 12 April 1939, and Flight Lieutenant on 1 September 1939. Posted as a Pilot to 256 Squadron in May 1941, flying a mixture of Defiants and Hurricanes, he converted later that year to Beaufighters, and was promoted Squadron Leader on 1 December 1941. On 10 January 1942 he and his Observer, Pilot Officer N. Smith, shot down a Dornier 217 near Nuneaton, motoring to the area to collect bits of the downed aircraft as souvenirs on 13 January. Transferring to 23 Squadron in June 1942, flying Bostons, the following month he was posted to 418 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Squadron, before embarking upon a Staff Pilot’s course in August of that year. Moving to No. 60 O.T.U. at the end of September 1942, based at East Fortune, he spent the following year as an instructor, both in the U.K. subsequently with No. 51 O.T.U. at Cranfield, and in Canada with No. 36 O.T.U. in Nova Scotia, and for his services was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1944 New Year’s Honours’ List.

Hamilton retuned to operational flying at the end of July 1944 when he was posted to 613 Squadron, based at R.A.F. Lasham, flying Mosquitos. Flying night operations, his first operational sortie was to Laval on 28 July 1944, when he dropped ‘bombs and cannon on troops and motor transport in wood’ (the recipient’s Log Book refers). On 17 September he took part in a daylight attack on the Barracks at Arnhem: ‘Led section of 8 to attack Barracks at Arnhem in support of Airborne Landings. Very good results.’ His operational conduct was soon rewarded with the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Promoted Wing Commander on 1 January 1945, Hamilton was given command of 138 Wing, and spent the final months of the War flying further operational sorties, targeting mainly railway junctions and other ground transport. His final successful hit was on four railway locomotives outside Hamburg on 23 April 1945. Returning to Hamburg the following month shortly after VE-Day, he reported ‘all areas almost totally deserted’, and the end of the War brought the further reward of a Second Award Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross. He transferred to the Aircraft Control Branch on 25 May 1947, and retired in 1955. He died in 1964.

Sold together with the recipient’s five Royal Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Books, covering the periods 1 October 1929 to 9 June 1933; 9 June 1933 to 24 April 1934; 27 April 1934 to 24 July 1934; 11 August 1940 to 29 January 1946; and 5 February 1946 to 15 March 1955; the recipient’s riband bar; and various photographic images and copied research.