Walter Richard Pollock Hamilton was an Irish 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.
Details
He was 22 years old, and a Lieutenant in the Staff Corps and Corps of Guides , Indian Army during the Second Afghan War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 2 April 1879 at Futtehabad , Afghanistan, Lieutenant Hamilton led a charge of the Guide Cavalry against very superior numbers of the enemy. When his commanding officer fell, the lieutenant, the only officer left with the regiment, assumed command and cheered his men on to avenge the death of the commanding officer. In this charge, seeing that a sowar was down, entangled with his dead horse and being attacked by three of the enemy, Lieutenant Hamilton rushed to the rescue, cutting down all three and saving the life of the sowar.
Further information
The medal
please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed
Reference
See also
External links
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
Last updated: 08-26-2005 14:08:06
