THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO LIEUTENANT WALTER HAMILTON, QUEEN'S OWN CORPS OF GUIDES, HAS BEEN SOLD AT A SPINK AUCTION AND HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE LORD ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION. |
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6 May 1998 |
The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Lieutenant Walter Hamilton, Queen's Own Corps of Guides ( Cavalry ), have been sold at a Spink auction in London. The sale hammer price realised £60,000 and was purchased by the Michael Ashcroft Trust the holding institution for the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. The Hamilton VC group has gone on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum, London.
For the award of the Victoria Cross [ London Gazette, 1 September 1879 ], Futtehabad, Afghanistan, 2 April 1879, Lieutenant Walter Richard Pollock Hamilton, Queen's Own Corps of Guides ( Cavalry ).
For conspicuous gallantry during the action at Futtehabad on the 2nd April 1879, in leading on the Guide cavalry in a charge against very superior numbers of the enemy, and particularly at a critical moment when his Commanding Officer ( Major Wigram Battye ) fell. Lieutenant Hamilton, then the only Officer left with the Regiment, assumed command and cheered on his men to avenge Major Battye’s death. In this charge Lieutenant Hamilton, seeing Sowar Dowlut Ram down, and attacked by three of the enemy, whilst entangled with his horse ( which had been killed ) rushed to the rescue, and followed by a few of his men cut down all three and saved the life of Sowar Dowlut Ram.
On the 3rd September 1879 Lieutenant Walter Hamilton was killed during the storming of the British Residency in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was buried in the garden of the Residency in an unmarked grave. |
Iain Stewart, 6 May 1998