Major-General Thomas de Courcy Hamilton
VC (20 July 1825 – 3 March 1908) was a Scottish recipient of the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...
forces.
Joining the
British Army
The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
as an ensign in the
90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers) in 1842, he exchanged into the
68th Regiment of Foot
The 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1758. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 106th Bombay Light Infantry to form the Durham Light Infantry in 1881, the 68t ...
in 1848.
Citation
Hamilton was 27 years old, and a
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
in the
68th Regiment of Foot
The 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1758. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 106th Bombay Light Infantry to form the Durham Light Infantry in 1881, the 68t ...
, on active service during the
Crimean War
The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...
at the
Siege of Sebastopol, when the following deed took place, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:
"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."
Later life

Hamilton remained on the active list until 1872, when he was a Brevet colonel. He had a long retirement, dying in 1908, and was buried at the
Bouncer's Lane Cemetery, Cheltenham, with his wife and son.
[Nicolas Wheatley, ''Final Journey: The Untold Story of Funeral Trains'' (The History Press, 2020)]
p. 254
/ref>
The medal
The medal is held privately by descendants of Thomas de Courcy Hamilton.
References
*''Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross
List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients lists all recipients of the Victoria Cross (post-nominal letters "VC") born on the island of Ireland, together with the date and place of their VC action. The Victoria Cross is the highest war honour of ...
'' (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
*''Monuments to Courage
David Charles Harvey (29 July 1946 – 4 March 2004) was a British historian and author. He is notable for his seminal work, ''Monuments To Courage'', which documents the graves of almost all recipients of the Victoria Cross, a task that took ...
'' (David Harvey, 1999)
*''The Register of the Victoria Cross
''The Register of the Victoria Cross'' is a reference work that provides brief information on every Victoria Cross awarded until the publication date. Each entry provides a summary of the deed, along with a photograph of the recipient and the f ...
'' (This England, 1997)
External links
Location of grave and VC medal
''(Gloucestershire)''
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Courcy Hamilton, Thomas
Crimean War recipients of the Victoria Cross
British recipients of the Victoria Cross
British Army personnel of the Crimean War
68th Regiment of Foot officers
1825 births
1908 deaths
People from Stranraer
Cameronians officers
British Army major generals
British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross