Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well documented Northern Ireland campaign group of three awarded to Platoon Sergeant M. E. L. Hamilton, Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish Regiment, who enlisted in the U.D.R in October 1973 among the very first group of women to be fully integrated into the infantry of the British Army and went on to complete 20 years of service during the ‘Troubles’.

General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (F/448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR); Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, E.II.R., with Additional Award Bar (FO448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR); Ulster Defence Regiment Medal, E.II.R. (F448167 Sgt M E L Hamilton UDR) court mounted together with brooch bar for wearing, nearly extremely fine (3) £600-£800

M. E. L. Hamilton was born in 1949 and enlisted in the Ulster Defence Regiment as a part-time member on 22 October 1973, less than 3 months after Royal Assent had been given to the U.D.R. Bill (allowing women to enlist) - a development that the Army quartermaster’s stores were not fully prepared for:

‘Unfortunately our uniforms were not available, so we trained in ‘civvies’. When we eventually received a uniform it consisted of ATS skirts (surplus WW2), dark green jumper, green beret, tie, cravat in battalion colour, black gloves, blacked laced shoes, khaki shirt and black knee length boots for winter and a jacket. We did not have our own flakjackets and had to wear men’s. It was a rush to get to the stores to get the smaller flakjackets when going out on duty. You can imagine how uncomfortable they were. Years later we were issued with lightweight denim trousers, puttees and boots.’ (Recipient’s notes.)

The Ulster Defence Regiment was the first infantry regiment in the British Army to fully integrate women into its structure. At its height there were 11 battalions in Northern Ireland. Known as Greenfinches, they were the vanguard for women today to integrate into all the military forces in the United Kingdom.

Hamilton served with the 10th (City of Belfast) Battalion, U.D.R., based at Abbotscroft, Newtownabbey from 1973 until 1984 in Greenfinch platoon, receiving her Accumulated Campaign Service Medal on 31 January 1981 and attaining the rank of F/Sgt. in 1978. She was then posted Platoon Sergeant, Greenfinch Platoon, 7/10th (City of Belfast) Battalion at Girdwood Park, receiving the 1st Clasp to her ACSM on 30 April 1984. In 1989 she was posted again with the 7/10th to Malone HQ, Belfast where she served as Platoon Sergeant, Part Time Signals Platoon until 1992. She joined the newly formed Royal Irish Regiment on 1 July 1992, on its creation following the merger of the U.D.R. and the Royal Irish Rangers. Serving until discharged on 21 October 1993 on completion of her engagement, Hamilton completed exactly 20 years of service.

Sold with the following items and ephemera:
(i) Certificates (4).
a) Greenfinches Ulster Defence Regiment 1973-1988 (record of appreciation for faithful and valuable service rendered voluntarily for 15 years since the formation of the Greenfinches as part of the U.D.R. on 1st August 1973).
b) The 365 Club 10th (City of Belfast) Battalion (Cpl Hamilton MEL joined the Regiment on 22 October 1973 and has on 1 October 1977 completed 365 days operational duty, for which devotion to the cause of restoring peace to the Province is appointed a member of the 365 Club - dated 23 November 1977.)
c) Certificate of Service - The U.D.R. (Certificate is issued as a record of appreciation for faithful and valuable service rendered voluntarily as a member of the U.D.R. F0448167 Sgt. Hamilton MEL has served in the U.D.R. with loyalty and devotion for eighteen years and eight months. Dated 30 June 1992.)
d) Certificate of Discharge including Certificate of Service.

(ii) Recipient’s miniature awards, mounted for wear with one additional miniature GSM with Northern Ireland clasp.
(iii) Named card boxes of issue for A.C.S.M. and U.D.R. medal.
(iv) U.D.R. women’s stable belt - very good condition.
(v) U.D.R. / Royal Irish Regiment beret badges (2) one in black, one in gold; U.D.R. / Royal Irish Regiment lapel badge; Royal Irish Regiment shoulder title.
(vi) Metal U.D.R. stripes (3) lance corporal, corporal, sergeant.
(vii) Cloth epaulets for 10 UDR and 7/10 UDR; cloth Signals badge; cloth R.I.R. chevrons.
(viii) Medal riband bar; Greenfinches 40th Anniversary metal and enamel badge; UDR remembrance metal and enamel badge.
(ix) Metal medallions with UDR badge to the obverse (3) - the 1st inscribed to the reverse ‘GF skills 1983 winning team’; the second inscribed to the reverse ‘10 UDR SAAM 84 winners WUDR match’; the third blank to the reverse.
(x) Wooden heraldic shield with hand painted crest of the UDR together with Greenfinch symbol, the dates 1973-1983 on scroll beneath, height 17.3cm.
(xi) Photographs of the recipient in uniform (2). The first at Hillsborough Castle, June 1980, with the Duchess of Kent; the second at a UDR medal presentation ceremony.

All the above items expertly and neatly categorised and boxed.