Award DSO Major J.R.C. Hamilton (34438) 184th Field Company, Royal Engineers

WO 373/50/467 Major John Robert Crosse Hamilton (34438) 184th Field Company, Royal Engineers DSO

For gallant and most distinguished service in the Field during the period June 6th to 31st July 1944.
This officer landed very early on D-Day in command of a Beach Group Field Company with the Assault troops on NAN Beach and his task was to develop the beaches to enable stores to be landed for the maintenance off the Army. Immediately after he landed his Company had casualties from rifle and LA fire from a beach defence work which was still holding out. Realising that no work could be started on this part of the beach until the post was reduced, Major Hamilton collected together a force of Canadians, Marines and Sappers and quickly organised a successful attack on the position which yielded 35 prisoners. This quick and determined action on his part had a considerable effect on the subsequent rapid development and clearing of the beaches in the initial stages.

During the remainder of the period Major Hamilton set a very fine example of drive and determination in performing his duties on the beaches and showed himself to be absolutely undeterred either by enemy action or by the effects of storms. Despite the fact that practically the whole of the equipment of his Field Company was destroyed by bombs and cannon fire by enemy aircraft on D + 1 and that at times, storms at sea washed away his work he proved himself completely undeterred by any difficulties and so infused his Company by his personal example that the damage was rapidly repaired and was never allowed to interfere with the transit of vital stores and equipment across the beaches. By his actions, this officer had a material effect on the operations in progress.

 

Born 1st April 1906;

Son of Major John Andrew Charles Hamilton, West Somerset Yeomanry of Fyne Court, Bridgewater, Somerset;

Married Rosamond Budd, daughter of Richard Hancock of Hong Kong, 1938; One son and one daughter;

Educ; Radley College., R.M.A. Woolwich and Caius College Cambridge;

2Lt., Royal Engineers, 2nd February, 1926;
Lt., 3rd September, 1929;
Capt., 3rd September, 1936;
Adjt., 45th (R. War. R.) A.A. Bn. (T.A.), 15th December 1936 – 16th November, 1939;
a/Maj., 7th September, 1940;
temp. Maj., 7th December 1940;
Maj., 3rd September 1942;
a/Lt.-Col., 8th Oct. 1942;
OC, 184th Field Company.; temp Lt-Col., 8th January 1943;
CRE 6th Airborne Division.; Served in NW Europe incl the Rhine Crossing (D.S.O. and Belgian Chevalier, Order of Leopold with Palm, Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm LG: 25th September 1947);
War Subs Lt-Col. And temp. Brig. 1947;
Dep. Dir. Of Mil. Ops. War Officer, 1948-1949;
Lt.-Col., 31st December, 1948;
Col. (temp. Brig.), 31st December, 1949; C.B.E. LG:
2nd January, 1950;
Brig., 1st January, 1954;
local Maj-Gen., 26th April 1955;
temp. Maj.-Gen., 29th April 1955;
CoS, HQ Malaya Cmd., 29th April 1955 – 1st Oct, 1956;
Maj.-Gen., 27th December, 1955;
Dir. Of Mil. Ops. (A) War Officer, 1956-1959;
C.B. L.G.: 1st Jan 1957;
Retired on retd. Pay (Res Liab) 1st June, 1959
Bursar, Churchill College, Cambridge, 1959-1972;
Col. Cmdt., Royal Engineers, 1962-1971;
Ceased to belong to the Res. Of Offrs., 1st April 1966.

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