CHAPTER XV

 

MAJOR JOHN SPRING HAMILTON AND HIS DESCENDANTS

 

       John Spring Hamilton[1], the second son of Capt. John Hamilton (see Chap XIII) m. Elizabeth, da. of James Pratt, Esq., of Kinsale, Co. Cork,  and niece of General Sir Charles Pratt, K.C.B.   Served in 5th Foot; Ensign 13 November 1799; Lieut. 26 May 1803; Capt. 26 Feb 1808; Major 27 May 1825.  War service:- Embarked with 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 the Texel, and all troops on board were made prisoner of war by the Dutch. He was soon afterwards liberated (by exchange; served in the Peninsula; Battles of Nivelle, Vittoria and Salamanca; was taken prisoner after the Battle of Salamanca and detained at Verdun till the peace of 1814[2].  Was with the 5th Foot at the occupation of Paris after Waterloo. Medal and clasps.

      

His children were:

(1) Charles Pratt Hamilton, of whom presently;

(2) Mary, of whom presently;

(3) Fanny Ann, who died s.p. 184?.

 

Charles Pratt Hamilton m. Louisa Anna Butler.  He served in the 95th Foot; Ensign 29 June 1830; Lieut. 13 March 1835; Capt. 1 April 1869; Major 1 April 1870; Adjutant Recruiting District Dublin 24 Feb. 1843, to 1 April 1870; retired on full pay 1 April 1870. Ob. 26 August 1891.

 

       Their sons were:

(1) John Butler Hamilton, of whom presently;

(2) Charles James Hamilton, who m. Isabel, da. of Charles Taddy, Esq.  He served in the 3rd Regiment, "The Buffs."  Ensign 17 March 1858; Lieut. 22 October 1861; Capt. 26 June 1867; Lieut-Col 30 November 1885; retired on pension 1885; was Adjutant, British Guiana, 1864-66; Assistant Military Secretary, China, 1881-82; A.D.C. to Governor of Hong Kong 1882-83. War service: Served in latter part of Zulu war, 1879. Medal. Ob. 3 Oct 1918. Their children are: - Margaret Hilda Hamilton, Pauline Rose Hamilton and Kathleen Norah Hamilton.[3]

      

John Butler Hamilton[4] b. in Dublin 2 Jan 1838; m. Annie Willis (ob. 26 Oct 1918), da. of Major Cluny McPherson, West India Regt. 27 March 1861. Served as Assistant Surgeon in 3rd West India Regt in Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica 1860-62; Bengal 1864-82 and 1885-90; Surgeon 1 April 1873; Surgeon-Major 1 April 1875; Brigade Surgeon 27 March 1886; Honorary Surgeon to the Viceroy of India November 1888. War service: - Served in the Soudan Campaign 1885. Soudan Medal; clasp for Suakin 1885; Khedive's Star.  The Medical charge of Hospital Ship during Burmah War 1886; Surgeon Colonel 1891; served in Cape of Good Hope 1995-95; Surg. Maj. General 1995; Surg. General and retd 3 Oct 1998. Ob. 26 October 1902 at 211 Cromwell Mansions.  His obituary is attached to this book at Appendix 3. A brass memorial tablet in his memory exists in the R.A.M.C. Museum Memorial Chapel, Aldershot. Their children were:- Bernard Montague Champion Hamilton, Leonie Hamilton, of whom presently and Louisa Bell Hamilton of whom presently.

 

       Bernard Montague Champion Hamilton m. 28 Dec 1895 at Fysabad, India, m. firstly Hilda Katherine Fendall,[5] da. of Major-General Fendall Currie, Comr. of Fysabad.  He joined the Indian Police 4 July 1891, and has been Superintendent of Police successively at Bareilly, Agra, Cawnpore and Lucknow.[6]  Married secondly Daphne Edith Palmer[7] of 7 Park Road, Surbiton, Surrey . He died 1 Feb 1951.

Their children are:[8]

(1) John Eric Vivian Colclough Hamilton, born 22 Nov 1896; educated at Cheltenham Coll. and Sandhurst; 2nd Lieut. 4th Worcester Regt. 22 Dec 1914; Served in Gallipoli and France 1915-17; later Squadron Leader R.C.A.F, formerly of the R.A.F.;  m. April 1918, Norah Fitzmaurice , da. of Col. John Colly Burkitt, R.A.M.C.  Resigned his commission early in 1921. Divorced; married again [29 Jun 1949 Marion Eunice Colborne da. of John Colborne Coote of Vancouver B.C.]  and, I gather, is living in Toronto, Canada. Died 26 June 1964. Had a son by his first marriage, John Colly Colclough Hamilton, b. 31 Aug 1919 in ?eighington, Lincs; served in the Royal Navy as Commander during the 2nd World War; m. 10 Feb 1942 Joan da. of R. Bonnor-Maurice of Padstow, Cornwall;  and in turn had a son, John Jeremy Colclough Hamilton, b. 28 April 1945 in Wadebridge, Cornwall.

(2) Doreen Marjorie Hamilton, b. 28 Nov 1899; Married one Peter Martin, a temporary Officer who was axed. He pre-deceased her. She married again one Adams?, RAF Squadron Leader; made Record? Capt?; killed at Aldershot in plane accident. Doreen had two sons by Peter Martin, both are in Canada. One is named Colin.

(3) Sheila Margaret Hamilton, b. 29 Sep 1904; Sheila married Cyril Kemp, Indian Police; quarrelled with him and ran away from him when at ………. Kemp found her, fell in love and re-married her. I think they are quite happy.

(4) Ethel Nora Alexandra Hamilton, b. 8 Jan 1907; Living in England but I don't think she is married[9].

(5) Hubert John Douglas Hamilton, b. 4 June 1914; Hubert is in the Royal Indian Navy, is married and has two children and doing well; of whom presently.

(6) Denis Nigel Alex Butler Hamilton, b. 19 Dec 1916; Denis in S.E.Africa and ……According to his account fought the Italians in Abyssinia during the war in 1940-45 and also at  M……. and in S…….. All this is to be verified.

 

       Leonie Hamilton m. John Clibborn, Lieut-Col. Indian Army; Companion of the Order if the Indian Empire; of Moorock, King's Co, Ireland. Their children were:

(1) Cuthbert John Hamilton Clibborn, educated at St. Columba's Coll. near Dublin, and Westward Ho. Coll.  2nd Lieut. Royal Horse Artillery, 1902; Lieut. 1905; Capt; Brigade Major. Twice mentioned in despatches.  Killed in action at Armentieres 14 Dec 1915;

(2) Cecil Hamilton Clibborn,  educated at St. Columba's Coll, near Dublin, and at Westward Ho. Coll.; 2nd Lieut. Royal Garrison Artillery, 1905;  92nd Punjabi's 1909; Capt.  Died of wounds received in action in Mesopotamia 7 April 1916;

(3) Annie Leonie m. 1909 at Cawnpore, India, Claud Quarry of the Palms, Cawnpore.   Their children are:- Cuthbert Zachariah Quarry, b. Aug 1911; Leonie Quarry and Claudia Quarry.

(4) Violet Louise m. 4 Oct 1911, at St. Phillip's Church, Kensington, Richard Gerald Eyre, Major 1st Batt. Connaught Rangers. Served in the South African war 1899-1902, and in the Great War 1914-1918. Wounded in Oct 1914.

 

       Louisa Belle Hamilton D.B.E. m. 14 Nov 1889, at Lucknow, Sir Percy Zachariah Cox[10], b. 20 Nov 1864, youngest son of Arthur Z. Cox, Esq., Harwood Hall Essex; educated at Harrow and Sandhurst; joined the 2nd Batt. Cameronians 1884; Indian Staff Corps 1889; Indian Political Dept. 1890; held several political appointments, including Consul and Political Agent Muscat, Arabia 1890-1904; British Resident and Consul General at Bushire, Persian Gulf 1904; Ambassador at Teheran, Persia 1918; and apparently B.H.C. in Baghdad in 1920; Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire; Knight Grand Commander of the same order; Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India.  Their only son, Derek Percy Cox, was educated at Harrow and Trinity Coll, Cambridge.  At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 he enlisted in the 11th Hussars from whence, at the desire of his relatives, he passed into Sandhurst as a cadet, but as he preferred to serve in the ranks, he was allowed to leave Sandhurst and join the Machine Gun Corps as a private.  Later he became a Corporal and remained in the M.G.C. for about 18 months during which he served in France. He then received a commission in the Royal Flying Corps and served in France as an observer for about six months.  He was invalided home in September 1916, and, having gained his pilot's certificate, he was ordered to France again in June 1917.  On the 21st August 1917, he was out with his squadron (the 27th) on a bombing raid over Germany.  He was shot down and reported "missing" on that date.  In October 1917, information was received by the Red Cross at Geneva that the German red Cross stated definitely that he had been killed on the 21st August 1917.

 

       Derek P. Cox was m. 4 Oct 1916, at Holy Trinity Church, Orton, Longueville, Peterborough, to Ethel, second da. of W. Ellingdon. Esq., Pembroke Lodge, Orton (she died 4 Jan 1920) and had a son, Derek Percy, b. 25 Feb 1918.[11]

 

       Mary Hamilton (ob. 16 March 1871), the elder da. of John Spring Hamilton (p.36) m. John Ballard (ob. 29 Aug 1879, aged 85). Their children were:-

(1) John Hamilton Ballard; in Holy Orders (ob Dec 1870 aged 34);

(2) James Pratt Ballard; (ob s.p.);

(3) Elizabeth Anne Ballard m. Sept 1860, Boughey Burgess, Capt. 20th Bombay Infantry; Secretary and Curator Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall, London (ob. May 1889 aged 75).  She died at Rovelden,  Kent on the 5th Feb 1930 in her 93 year (The Times).  Their children were:-

(1) Francis Chassereau Boughey Burgess, b. 18 Jun 1861; retired Civil Engineer; m. Constance Dighton;

(2) Mary Hamilton Burgess;

(3) Ethel Foster Burgess, m. Henry John Allen and has one da., Joan Ethel Burgess Allen;

(4) Ina Constance Burgess, m. Henry Lionel Brockett Burdett-Burgess; Capt, 1st Canadian Pioneer Batt. lives at Vancouver Island B.C.. Served for three and a half years in France, 1915-18. Their children are:- Jerome Burdett-Burgess, b. 1905, and Anthony Burdett-Burgess, b. 1910;

(5) John Hugh Lawrence Burgess lives in Grenada, British West Indies; m. Jean Duncan and has one son, Hugh Boughey Burgess, b. 1 May 1913;

(6) Ella Georgina Burgess;

(7) Irene Marguerite Burgess;

(8) Elizabeth Chassereau Burgess;

(9) Boughey Burgess, b. Jan 1880; Major Royal Engineers; served in Saint Helena during the Boer War 1899-1902, being in charge of a war prisoners camp; served in Mesopotamia  and Persia 1917-18; m. in 1910 Jessie Thornthwaite, who died Sep 1916.[12]

 

       Hubert John Douglas Hamilton, b. 4 June 1914 in Dorking, Surrey; educated at T.S. Conway and Dartmouth Royal Naval College; was a Midshipman, R.N. in 1934 (see Chap  IV footnote 4); transferred to the Royal Indian Navy[13] at outset of WW11; Mar 1939 HMIS IRRAWADI; 1942 HMS EXCELLENT; 1943 HMS CARNATIC; 1944 HMS DALHOUSIE; Oct 1944 HMS CEYLON; 1945 First Lieutenant, HMIS GODAVARI; m. 2 Oct 1940 in Karachi,  Hermione Claudine Steuart-Gratton da. of Major John Steuart-Gratton, Indian Army and Etheldreda Mary Sancroft, da. of William Sancroft Randall, A.M.I.C.E. of Orford, Suffolk, a Gentleman Usher to the Queen; also sister of John Sancroft Steuart Gratton, O.B.E., Colonel, late Hampshire Regt; wounded at Dunkirk 1939 and Monte Cassino 1943; later Commanding Officer of 2nd Parachute Regt. during the Suez Operation 1956; and of Veronica Sancroft Steuart-Gratton. Had two children:- Meralyn Claudine Hamilton and Colin Fendall Butler Hamilton, of whom presently. Divorced 1950; was a founder member of the Kenyan Navy, residing in Mombasa, where he m. 2ndly 5 May 1952, Veronica Ann, da. of Commander Neville Stacy-Marks R.N.R. and Marjorie his wife, with whom he had a da. Doreen  Phoebe Fendall Hamilton, b. 10 Jan 1955 in Mombasa, Kenya; was Honorary Naval A.D.C. to Prince Philip during Princess Elizabeth's visit to Kenya in 1952. Left Kenya 1958. Died 12 Jul 1975 at Deal, Kent.

 

       Meralyn Claudine Hamilton, b. 4 Sep 1941 in Bangalore; educated at Heathfield; family returned to England on the assassination of Ghandi in 1947; lived in Quay House, Orford, Suffolk; m. 19 Jun 1971 Hugh Homan, Solicitor.  Their children are:

(1)  Alexander Hugh Homan, b. 10 Nov 1973 in London; educated at Dulwich College and B.A. Exeter Coll. Oxon,  of whom in due course.

(2)  Olivia Catherine Homan, b. 10 May 1976  in London; educated at King's School, Cant. and B.A. St. Andrew's Univ., of whom in due course.

 

       Colin Fendall Butler Hamilton,  b. 12 May 1944 in Bombay; returned to England 1947; lived at Orford; educated at Haileybury and I.S.College and at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; served in R.N. from 1962 to 1999; appointments: a number of H.M. Ships incl. APPLETON First Lieut 1965; Flag Lieutenant to COMFEF[14] 1968-9; BACCHANTE Navigator 1970; JUNO Signals Officer 1972; Royal Yacht 1974; Instructor R.N.C. Dartmouth 1975; BLAKE Signals Officer 1978; ROTHESAY First Lieut. 1980; LEEDS CASTLE 1981 Commanding Officer; prom. Cdr 1983; JUPITER 1984 Commanding Officer; Fleet Communications Officer 1986; Student at U.S.N. War College Newport, R.I. 1988; Staff Maritime Tactical School 1989; prom. Capt. 1992; NATO Staff Naples, Italy 1992; Asst. Chief of Staff (Comms) at P.J.H.Q. 1994; Captain Admiralty Interview Board 1997; retired 1999. Medals for service in Falklands War, 1982; Gulf War 1991; and with NATO Command in Balkans (Former Yugoslavia) War 1992-4; Finally settled at Crimsham Manor, Lagness, Chichester.  He m. firstly 13 Dec 1969 in the Royal Naval College, Greenwich,  Annaliese Jon Hamilton, da. of Brigadier C.D.S. Kennedy, late of R.A. and the Army Air Corps with whom he had one son:-  Alastair Steuart Hamilton, b. 28 Mar 1972 in Winchester; educated at Sherborne School and B.A. Birmingham Univ.; of whom in due course.

 

He m. 2ndly 4 Oct 1985 in St. James's,  Piccadily,  June Marie da. of Ronald Clarke of Jersey; a well known yachtswoman and journalist with whom he had three sons:-

(1) Edward William Spring Hamilton, b. 20 Sep 1986 in London; educated at Canford School; of whom in due course.

(2) Robert Bonner Hamilton, b. 1 Aug 1991 in Portsmouth; educated at Canford School; of whom in due course.

(3) Douglas Gratton Hamilton, b. 1 Aug 1991 in Portsmouth; educated at Canford School; of whom in due course.

 

       Despite the fact her father was unaware of her marriage, Ethel Nora Alexandra (Alix) Hamilton……………………….

 

Chapter XVI

 

CONTENTS

 

 


[1] There is a miniature painting of JSH in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers Museum in Alnwick Castle.  C.F.B.H.

[2] Here follows a note written in the margin by unknown (probably Bernard M.C. Hamilton, a great grand-son):"A mistake has crept in here and the three Battles have been shown in the wrong order. They should be in the following order if the clasps on the Medal are correct, and in the right sequence. (1) Salamanca 22nd Jul 1812; (2) Vittoria 21st June 1813; (3) Nivelle  10th November 1813.  My Great Grandfather could not possibly have been taken prisoner at Salamanca otherwise he would not have been at the Battles of  Vittoria and Nivelle which were fought after Salamanca. I think Everard Hamilton meant he was taken prisoner after the Battle of Nivelle and detained at Verdun till the peace of 1814. A slip of the pen?"

[3] Here follows a note written in the margin by unknown: "Margaret Hilda and Kathleen Norah are alive. I saw them at Folkestone on Saturday the 9th June 1945. They were both well. I was delighted to see them. In fact, our delight was mutual." !! Margaret Hilda died before July 1946 and Kathleen Norah died on 19 Apr 1962. These are the Misses Hamilton who owned an oil painting of John Spring Hamilton in uniform.  It was left to the widow of Bernard Montague Champion, Daphne Palmer. I suspect it is the same painting, a miniature, that is now is the Alnwick Museum.  C.F.B.H.

[4] These two notes are made on his Record of Service (R.A.M.C. Museum): "Weak point is volubility as regards tongue and pen - G.O.C's CR for 93",  "Censured by HRH The C in C for writing to the 'Morning Post' regarding an 'irresponsible' statement which had appeared in a previous issue & which it was no part of his duty to notice"!!   C.F.B.H.

[5] Died at Nairobi, S.E. Africa on 11th July 1944. Nairobi Registration of death entry No. 112/1944.

[6]  Note in margin - Married secondly Daphne Edith Palmer at Surbiton, Surrey March 27.

[7] She died 25 Feb 1966, leaving her estate to her spinster sister Rosemary Elizabeth Palmer of 7 Park Road, Surbiton.

[8] I have included in italics partially legible notes written in the margins by Bernard M.C. Hamilton,  of his children.  Notes on H.J.D.H., my father and next generations have been added by me.    C.F.B.H.

[9] In fact she did!! In 2004, I heard from her son, Rev Tony Grosse! I will include his line and more information about that generation at the end of this chapter.  C.F.B.H.

[10] In an article in the Times on the war in Iraq (2003/4) it is stated that…"But Faisal had helped TE Lawrence against the Turks during the war. The British rewarded him with the Baghdad throne. Sir Percy Cox, the British High Commissioner, finalised Iraq's boundaries with a few strokes of his pen at a conference in a desert tent in 1922."   C.F.B.H.

[11] There is a partially legible note in the margin that suggests that Derek Percy joined the Royal Navy……H.M.S…….1939.

[12] A note in the margin states "Also another daughter, Dorothea (Dorothy) drowned at Swanage in 1883 or 1884."

[13] In 1968, I was Flag. Lt. to COMFEF and visited Bombay with my Admiral. We were entertained by Admiral 'Charles' Nanda, CinC Bombay. On discovering that mys father had been in the R.I.N., Adm. Nanda produced photograph albums containing shots of both them, taken when serving in HMIS IRRAWADI together. It transpired that the Admiral had inherited his nick-name after my father, H.J.D.H. had routinely called him 'Cha-Cha', Hindi for Uncle/Old Man, when helping him back on board after another good run ashore! This developed into Charles.  C.F.B.H.

[14] The Commander, Far East Fleet, with Headquarters in Singapore.