Thomas de Courcy Hamilton

Major-General Thomas de Courcy Hamilton VC (20 July 1825 – 3 March 1908) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Thomas de Courcy Hamilton
Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
Born20 July 1825
Stranraer, Scotland
Died3 March 1908 (aged 82)
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Buried
Cheltenham Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1842 - 1872
RankMajor-General
Unit90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers)
68th Regiment of Foot
Commands held64th Regiment of Foot
Battles/warsCrimean War
AwardsVictoria Cross

Joining the British Army as an ensign in the 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers) in 1842, he exchanged into the 68th Regiment of Foot in 1848.

Details

He was 27 years old, and a captain in the 68th Regiment of Foot (later The Durham Light Infantry), British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC due to his actions at Sebastopol.

"For having, on the night of the 11th May, 1855, during a most determined sortie, boldly charged the enemy, with a small force, from a battery of which they had obtained possession in great numbers, thereby saving the works from falling into the hands of the enemy. He was conspicuous on this occasion for his gallantry, and daring conduct".[1]

He retired from the army in 1872 as a Brevet colonel.

The medal

The medal is held privately by descendants of Thomas de Courcy Hamilton.

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References
  1. "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 661.
  • Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
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