A Fine Crimea War D.C.M., Al Valore Militare Group of Five to Quarter-Master J. Hamilton, 8th Regiment, Late Royal Artillery, Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Cy. Serjt., Royal Art.); Crimea, two clasps, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Compy. Sergt. Major, Royal Art.), engraved naming; Indian Mutiny, no clasp (Qr. Mr., 1st Bn. 8th Regt.); Al Valore Militare, silver, the reverse officially engraved, 'Compy. Sergt. Major J. Hamilton, 11th Bn. R.A.'; Turkish Crimea, British die (Compy. Sergt. Major, Royal Art.), engraved naming, edge bruising and slight contact wear, very fine and better (5)

Details

A Fine Crimea War D.C.M., Al Valore Militare Group of Five to Quarter-Master J. Hamilton, 8th Regiment, Late Royal Artillery, Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Cy. Serjt., Royal Art.); Crimea, two clasps, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Compy. Sergt. Major, Royal Art.), engraved naming; Indian Mutiny, no clasp (Qr. Mr., 1st Bn. 8th Regt.); Al Valore Militare, silver, the reverse officially engraved, 'Compy. Sergt. Major J. Hamilton, 11th Bn. R.A.'; Turkish Crimea, British die (Compy. Sergt. Major, Royal Art.), engraved naming, edge bruising and slight contact wear, very fine and better (5)

Lot Essay

Ex Gaskell Collection, 1911.

D.C.M. Royal Artillery General Regimental Order 23.5.1855.

Al Valore Militare 'Recommended for his bravery and distinguished conduct in the trenches, also remarkable for the example of coolness and intrepidity he offered to others. He is in possession of the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field'.

Quarter-Master Joseph Hamilton, D.C.M., was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire and attested for the Royal Artillery at Manchester in May 1843, aged 18 years. Advanced to Bombardier in April 1846 and to Corporal in April 1847, he joined the 11th Battalion, R.A. in November 1848, and served with distinction as a senior N.C.O. of 8th Company in the Crimea, where he was wounded in the trenches on 17.6.1855. The only member of the Royal Artillery to receive both the D.C.M. and Al Valore Militare for this conflict, he received the latter from Colonel J. Bloomfield at a special ceremony held at Woolwich on 18.7.1857 - he had originally been recommended by Major Spurway. Subsequently commissioned as a Lieutenant into the Land Transport Corps, he transferred to the 8th Regiment as a Quarter-Master in April 1858 and fought with Brigadier Douglas' Force in the Indian Mutiny, being present in the action at Kurkuhguch in November of the same year. Sadly, however, this was to prove the end of a promising career, the gallant Hamilton dying at Futtehgur in September 1859.