Henry Blackburne Hamilton


The following text is taken from the Historical Record of the 14th (King's) Hussars by Colonel Henry Blackburne Hamilton. He wrote a summary of the careers of all the commanding officers but we can be sure that this one is totally accurate as it is autobiographical:

Henry Blackburne Hamilton, eldest son of the late Rev Henry Hamilton MA of 17 Devonshire Place, London, formerly Ensign in the 85th (Duke of York's) Light Infantry, and afterwards Rector for many years of Thomastown, County Kildare, Ireland, and his wife Frances Margaret, daughter of the late Ralph Peters Esq of Platbridge House, Wigan, Lancs, was born 3rd July 1841; educated at Connaught House, Brighton, Elstree Hill School and Eton; graduated BA at Christ Church, Oxford in 1864, MA 1868; entered the army as cornet in 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers), 21st July 1864; became Lieutenant, 15th May 1866; Captain, 24th March 1869; Major 1st July 1881; Lieutenant-Colonel 17th March 1886; and Brevet-Colonel 17th March 1890. He was Instructor of Musketry in the Carabiniers from 1866 to 1869, and served with them in the Afghan campaign of 1879-80, in the Khyber Division of the Cabul Field Force, commanded by Lieutenant-General R O Bright CB.

In Afghanistan, in March 1880, Captain Hamilton, as he then was, commanded a detached troop of the Carabiniers with an expeditionary force despatched against the Mohmunds into the Chardeh Valley, under Lieutenant-Colonel G. C. Hodding; also in June 1880, a detached squadron (no sabres) with the Lughman Valley expedition, commanded by Brigadier-General C. G. Arbuthnot CB.

On 5th July 1880 he was present with his regiment in the successful attack on and destruction of the villages of Nargozi, Arab Khel, and Jokan by a mixed force commanded by Colonel Charles Acton of the 51st (King's Own) Light Infantry, when he led the 1st squadron of the Carabiniers which opened the attack. Received the Afghan War medal and was mentioned in despatches, being also recommended for a Brevet-Majority by his commanding officer (Colonel J. Fryer CB). Exchanged in November 1886, as Lieutenant-Colonel, with LieutenantColonel James Dennis, into the I4th (King's) Hussars, and was appointed to command that regiment 1st July 1887. After retaining the command for the usual period of four years, Colonel Hamilton went on half-pay, 1st July 1891, having been quartered with the Fourteenth at Shorncliffe, Brighton, Aldershot, and Hounslow. During his command he revised and published annually the Regimental Almanack, and he introduced and published a book of Regimental Standing Orders, none being then known in the regiment. The 'Standing Orders' introduced by Colonel Sir John Burgoyne, Bart, who commanded the Fourteenth from 1773 to 1781, had entirely disappeared, probably about the year 1792, and no traces of them remained. In July 1896 Colonel Hamilton was placed on retired pay after thirty-two years' service in the cavalry.'


Regimental Details | 14th Hussars Commanding Officers


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