Inistioge

• Walter Pollock Hamilton VC
• Robert Johnston VC

WALTER POLLOCK HAMILTON VC

• RANK / SERVICE - Lieutenant – Queen’s Own Corps of Guides (Cavalry)
• BORN - 18^th August 1856, Inistioge, Co Kilkenny, Ireland
• FATHER- Alexander Hamilton JP, born Newton Hamilton, Co Armagh, 4^th January 1829
• MOTHER - Emma Pollock, born Hatton, London, c.1833.  Daughter of Hon Sir Frederick Pollock Bt, Lord Chief Baron of HM Court of Exchequer
• CHILDREN OF PARENTS

Son – Frederick Alexander Pollock Hamilton, born Inistioge 20 August 1852

Son – Charles Pollock Hamilton, born Inistioge 9 October 1853

Son – Horace George Pollock Hamilton, born Inistioge 6 November 1854

Son – Walter Richard Pollock Hamilton VC, born Inistioge 18 August 1856

Son – Alexander Pollock Hamilton, born Inistioge 8 July 1858

Son – Robert Pollock Hamilton, born Inistioge 31 May 1860

Son – Archibald Pollock Hamilton, born Inistioge 17 September 1861

• EDUCATION

Eagle House School, Wimbledon, England

Felstead School, Essex, England

• RANK/SERVICE

2^nd Lieutenant – 70^th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot

Lieutenant – Queen’s Own Corps of Guides (Punjab Frontier Force)

Lieutenant – Queen’s Own Corps of Guides (Cavalry)

Military Attache and i/c Escort to Major Sir Louis Cavagnari, HM’s Envoy and Minister: Plenipotentiary to the Court of Kabul

• DIED - 3^rd September 1879 – British Embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan
• BURIED - Unknown. Probably where he fell in the Embassy garden.
• HONOURS & AWARDS

Victoria Cross

India General Service Medal (1854-1895)

       one clasp “Jowaki 1877-78”

Afghanistan Medal (1878-1880)

• INVESTITURE

VC posted to Walter Hamilton’s father on 25 October 1879

• LOCATION OF VC

Lord Ashcroft VC Collection, Imperial War Museum, London

• VICTORIA CROSS CITATION

For conspicuous gallantry during the action at Futtehabad on the 2^nd 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 Command Officer (Major Wigram Battye) fell, Lieutenant Hamilton, then the only Officer left with the Regiment, assumed command 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.

For further information see http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggafghan.htm 

We wish to express our gratitude to Iain Stewart of www.victoriacross.org.uk who provided the above information on Walter Hamilton.