Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 140
A Second War ‘Operation Market’ D.F.C. and Second Award Bar, A.F.C. group of six awarded to Wing Commander J. S. Hamilton, Royal Air Force, who, flying Beaufighters, shot down a Dornier 217 in 1942; after a year as an Instructor, for which he was awarded the A.F.C., he returned to operational duties in 1944 with 613 Squadron, flying Mosquitos, and took part in the daylight attack on the barracks at Arnhem in support of Operation Market Garden in September 1944, seeing out the the War as Wing Commander of 138 Wing
Distinguished Flying Cross,
G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1945, with Second Award Bar, the reverse officially dated 1945; Air Force Cross,
G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1944; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, good very fine (6)
£4,000-£5,000
D.F.C. London Gazette 13 February 1945. The original Recommendation states: ‘This officer completed his first tour of duty in 1942. In the course of operations in night fighters he destroyed a Dornier 217. He has taken part in a large number of attacks on enemy troop concentrations and communications, including the daylight attack on the barracks at Arnhem in support of the airborne landings in September 1944, and several effective sorties against targets in the battle area.’
D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 2 October 1945. The original Recommendation states: ‘This officer has flown on many low level attacks against the enemy’s line of communication, during which he has inflicted considerable damage on the enemy’s mechanical transports, locomotive, and rolling stock. By his high standard of courage and leadership, Wing Commander Hamilton has materially contributed to the operational efficiency of his wing.’
A.F.C. London Gazette 5 May 1944.
John Stewart Hamilton was born at Drayton on 1 September 1911 and was commissioned in the Royal Air Force in 1929. Promoted Flying Officer on 12 March 1931, he transferred to the Reserve of Air Force Officers on 30 November 1934, and relinquishing his commission on 30 July 1938.
Re-commissioned Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on 6 April 1939, Hamilton was promoted Flying Officer on 12 April 1939, and Flight Lieutenant on 1 September 1939. Posted as a Pilot to 256 Squadron in May 1941, flying a mixture of Defiants and Hurricanes, he converted later that year to Beaufighters, and was promoted Squadron Leader on 1 December 1941. On 10 January 1942 he and his Observer, Pilot Officer N. Smith, shot down a Dornier 217 near Nuneaton, motoring to the area to collect bits of the downed aircraft as souvenirs on 13 January.
Transferring to 23 Squadron in June 1942, flying Bostons, the following month he was posted to 418 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Squadron, before embarking upon a Staff Pilot’s course in August of that year. Moving to No. 60 O.T.U. at the end of September 1942, based at East Fortune, he spent the following year as an instructor, both in the U.K. subsequently with No. 51 O.T.U. at Cranfield, and in Canada with No. 36 O.T.U. in Nova Scotia, and for his services was awarded the Air Force Cross in the 1944 New Year’s Honours’ List.
Hamilton retuned to operational flying at the end of July 1944 when he was posted to 613 Squadron, based at R.A.F. Lasham, flying Mosquitos. Flying night operations, his first operational sortie was to Laval on 28 July 1944, when he dropped ‘bombs and cannon on troops and motor transport in wood’ (the recipient’s Log Book refers). On 17 September he took part in a daylight attack on the Barracks at Arnhem: ‘Led section of 8 to attack Barracks at Arnhem in support of Airborne Landings. Very good results.’ His operational conduct was soon rewarded with the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Promoted Wing Commander on 1 January 1945, Hamilton was given command of 138 Wing, and spent the final months of the War flying further operational sorties, targeting mainly railway junctions and other ground transport. His final successful hit was on four railway locomotives outside Hamburg on 23 April 1945. Returning to Hamburg the following month shortly after VE-Day, he reported ‘all areas almost totally deserted’, and the end of the War brought the further reward of a Second Award Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross. He transferred to the Aircraft Control Branch on 25 May 1947, and retired in 1955. He died in 1964.
Sold together with the recipient’s five Royal Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Books, covering the periods 1 October 1929 to 9 June 1933; 9 June 1933 to 24 April 1934; 27 April 1934 to 24 July 1934; 11 August 1940 to 29 January 1946; and 5 February 1946 to 15 March 1955; the recipient’s riband bar; and various photographic images and copied research.
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168
