CHAPTER XIV
GENERAL NICHOLAS HAMILTON AND HIS
DESCENDANTS
Nicholas Hamilton, the eldest son of
Capt. John Hamilton (see Chap XIII) m. Frances Anne (ob. Oct 1856), da. of the
Rev. Samuel Beamish, of Mount Beamish, Co. Cork – (see Burke's L.G.). Served in the 5th Foot; Ensign
15 June 1796; Lieut. 9 Dec 1796; Capt. 25 June 1803; Major 18 June 1812;
Lieut-Col 27 May 1825; Colonel 28 June 1838; Major
General 11 November 1851. Was
Inspecting Field Officer of the Northern Recruiting District in Ireland
1814-1851; Colonel of 82nd (?) Foot. War service:- Took part in the Expedition to Holland in 1799[1]; was present at all engagements; embarked in the Left Wing of the 1st
Batt. 5th Foot, 9 Dec 1805, at Ramsgate with the forces under Lord
Cathcart, destined for the defence of Hanover.
The transport was wrecked off Texel, and all troops on board were made
prisoners by the Dutch. He was soon
afterwards liberated (by exchange). Expedition to Buenos Ayres under Brigadier
General Robert Crawford 1806-7; Attack
on Buenos Ayres, and all skirmishes before that place; Expedition to Portugal 1808; Actions at
Rolica and Vimiera; Operations in Spain under Sir John Moore; Battle of
Corunna; Expedition to Walcheren 1809; At siege of Flushing seriously wounded;
leg amputated 7 August 1809. Medal and
clasps. Knight, Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order. Died in Dublin 12 Dec 1859; administration to William Hamilton 14
Jan 1860. He had two sons: Samuel
Beamish, of whom presently, and William.
The latter served in the 37th Foot; Ensign 26 Aug 1837; Lieut
21 June 1839; Capt. 4 July 1848; sold out 7 June 1850; ob. s.p. 4 Feb 1878. He
m. his cousin Harriette Beamish, who died 28 April 1901.
Samuel Beamish Hamilton served in the 25th
Foot (King's Own Borderers); Ensign 26 Aug 1837; Capt. 12 Jan 1839; Major 11
Nov 1851; Lieut-Col. 24 Nov 1857; sold out 23 Oct 1860. Died 12 Jan 1872. He m.
Marian, da. of the Rev. E. Meredith, Rector of Loughdon, Shropshire, and had
the following children:-
(1)
William George, of whom presently;
(2)
Alexander Beamish, of whom presently;
(3)
Archibald Samuel, of whom presently;
(4)
Walter Gustavus; Lieut. in the German army; retired 1890; entered the service
of the British East Africa Company; killed in action with Herti Somalis at
Turkikill near Cobwen, East Africa, 11th August 1893, while
commanding the troops of that company;
(5)
Frances Harriett;
(6)
Marian E., m. Hugh Basil Brown, in Holy Orders; Rector of Turnspuddle with
Affpuddle, near Dorchester, Dio. of Sarum.
William George Hamilton served in the 30th
Foot (East Lancashire Regt.); 2nd Lieut. 11 May 1878; Lieut. 23 June
1880; Adjutant 10 Nov 1880; Capt. 18 April 1885; passed Staff College; Station
Staff Officer Ferosapore, India, 1889; Major 17 Sep 1895. Transferred to 1st Batt. Norfolk
Regt. as Second in Command 1901; Lieut-Col 1904; Brevet-Col. 1907; Colonel
1909; Brigadier-Gen 1912; Brigadier Gen Commanding Southern Brigade, India,
Sept. 1913 to April 1915. Held various
other staff appointments in India from 1891 to 1910. War Service and decorations:- Isazai Expdt., NW Frontier of India
1892; as Brigade Major; Chitral Expedition, 1895 with the relief force; on
Staff Storming of the Malakand Pass; Passage of the Swat River; Action at the
Punjkora River; mentioned in Despatches, "London Gazette," 15 Nov
1895; Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, "in recognition of
services during recent operations in
Chitral" L.G.21 Jan 1896; Decorated by Her Majesty 15 May
1896; Medal with clasps.
Commanded Southern Brigade,
India 1913-15 in European War 1914 then in Mesopotamia. Later D.A.Q.M.G.
1915-1916; Companion of the Bath, 3 June 1915.
Severely wounded during the siege of Kut el Amara. Several times mentioned in Despatches. Taken prisoner by the Turks at the fall of
Kut on 29 April 1916. Released after
the Armistice 11 Nov 1918. Companion of the Star of India, Aug 1918; retired
with permanent rank of Brigadier-General, 27 Jan 1919. Married 18 Mar 1891, at
St. Mary Magdalene's Church, Meean Meer, Lahore, Mary Gertrude, 2nd
da. of Major Gen Sir Hugh Gough, V.C. K.C.B.
– (see Burke's Peerage, art. Visct. Gough). Died 30 Aug 1940[2].
The following were their children:-
(1)
Hugh William Roberts Hamilton, b. 13 April 1892; Lieut. Royal Engineers,
Military Cross; Capt. 26 Jun 1917; Companion of the Distinguished Service
Order, 3 Jun 1917; L.G. 25 Aug 1917; "for distinguished service in the
field Mesopotamia"; served in Flanders, Mesopotamia and Palestine. Twice
wounded. Ironically he was in the force that recaptured Kut, where his
father was wounded and captured.
(2)
Charles Gough Hamilton, b, 17 Jul 1897; 2nd Lieut. Norfolk Regt.
1915-17; resigned on account of ill health; ob. 10 Oct 1919.
(3)
Marianne Nora;
(4)
Kathleen Anne Frances;
(5)
Marjorie Hylda;
(6)
Georgina Mary.
Alexander Beamish Hamilton, the 2nd
son of Samuel Beamish Hamilton (p.33) served in the 25th Foot
(King's Own Scottish Borderers); Lieut 1 Jul 1881; Capt 11 Dec 1889; Adjutant
11 March 1890; passed Staff College; held various Staff appointments in many
parts of the world from 1893 to 1917-18; Colonel 1911; Brigadier Gen 1914. War
services: Chin-Lushai expedition 1889-90; Soudan Expedn. 1898; Battle of
Khartoum; Mentioned in Despatches; Brevet Major; Embarkation Commandant at
Southampton from 1914; served in Macedonia; on special duty Salonika, 1915; afterwards
on various commissions on sea Transport in Mediterranean and United Kingdom; on
special duty in Canada 1916-17. Medals:
Indian Frontier medal and clasp, "Chin-Lushai", Egyptian (Soudan)
Medal 1898 – clasp "Khartoum", British Soudan Medal; Decorations:
Companion of the Bath, 3 Jun 1915, and Belgian "Commandeur de l'Ordre de
la Couronne," Sept 1917. Invalided home; retired; died from illness
contracted on active service, 30 Dec 1918.
Archibald Samuel Hamilton, the 3rd
son of Samuel Beamish Hamilton (p.33) was educated at St John's College,
Cambridge; Hebrew Exhibitioner; served in 45th Foot (Sherwood
Foresters); Lieut. 1 May 1890; joined Indian Army (9th Bombay
Infantry); transferred to 54th Sikhs, Punjab Frontier Force 1891,
with which regiment he served in the Black Mountains (Hazara) Expedn. on the NW
Frontier of India in that year. Medal with clasp. Isazai Expedn. 1892; British
central Africa 1895 Expedn. against Kauringa, Zarifi, Mponda, Makanjira;
severely wounded. Medal with clasp NW Frontier of India ; Waziristan Expedn.
1901-2; mentioned in Despatches "London Gazette" 8 Aug 1902;
D.A.Q.M.G. for Intelligence. Medal with
clasp NW Frontier of India 1908; on
Staff; operations in the Mohmand country. Retired from Indian Army as a Major
16 Feb 1913 and appointed to a Majority in the 4th Batt. Sherwood
Foresters (militia) afterwards promoted to Commandant thereof. On the outbreak of war commanded 14th Batt. Durham Light Infantry, which he
trained and took to Flanders. Wounded
in action on Hill 70 (Battle of Lens)[3]
26 Sep 1915, and died from same at Endsleigh Palace Hospital, 13 Oct 1915. He m. Dorothea, youngest da. of Thomas
Barker, Esq., D.L., of Tong Lodge, Shifnal, Shropshire, and had the following
children:- Leslie Alexander Hamilton (who died an infant) ; Christine Mary
Hamilton, and James Hamilton.
[1] As did his father John Hamilton. C.F.B.H.
[2] Hamilton - Brigadier-General William George, CB, CSI, DSO - died 30th August 1940. Memorial at All Saints Church, Coddington - "In memory of Brig. General William George Hamilton C.B. C.S.I. D.S.O. of Coddington Court who died August 30th 1940 aged 80. He served his country with distinction in peace and war & was for 18 years warden of this church. This memorial is erected by his friends."
[3] The Battle of Lens (in which there was a Hill 70) took place in 1917. The 14th Bn. of D.L.I. took part in the Battle of Loos (in which there was also a Hill 70) in Sep 1915. The reference to Lens is almost certainly incorrect and meant to read Loos. C.F.B.H.