James de Courcy Hamilton

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Rear-Admiral James de Courcy Hamilton, M.V.O., R.N. (1 February, 1860 – 24 February, 1936) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

James de Courcy Hamilton was born in Heacham, Norfolk on 1 February, 1860.

Hamilton passed the competitive examination for admission as a Naval Cadet in late 1872, and joined the Navy in the January 1873 term of the Britannia, alongside Reginald Tupper and George Warrender, amongst others.[1][2]

Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 20 March, 1879.[3] In July 1881, he was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant with seniority backdated to 20 March, 1879. In his qualifying exams, he earned a first-class degree in Seamanship, a second-class in Gunnery, and a third in Navigation.[4][5] His first appointment as a Sub-Lieutenant was to the despatch vessel Helicon in the Mediterranean, commencing on 17 August, 1881.[6] He was still aboard Helicon during the Bombardment of Alexandria, and was specially promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 18 November, 1882, "for services rendered during the recent operations in Egypt".[7] After this promotion he left the Helicon.[8]

Hamilton was appointed to the composite-hulled sloop Dragon operating in the East Indies on 10 December, 1882.[9] He left Dragon near the end of October 1883.[10] He remained unemployed for the first half of 1884 before being appointed to the boys' training ship Ganges on 25 June, 1884.[11]

During the war scare after the Panjdeh Incident, Hamilton left the Ganges and was appointed additional to the depot ship Hecla to command the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 3 on 28 April, 1885.[12][13] From T.B. 3 he went to Vernon to qualify as a torpedo Lieutenant on 30 September, 1885.[14]

Hamilton was appointed to command the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 37 on 7 July, 1887, for the year's Manoeuvres.[15]

Hamilton was appointed additional to the Vernon on 28 November, 1890.[16] Less then a month later he was appointed additional to the armoured cruiser Orlando for service in the Victorian Naval Defence Force as a Lieutenant (T) on 12 December, 1890.[17]

Hamilton was appointed first lieutenant of the second class battleship Howe on 31 October, 1893.[18]

Hamilton was promoted to the rank of Commander on 21 December, 1895.[19]

Hamilton was appointed to the battleship Ramillies on 30 June, 1898.[20]

Hamilton was appointed to command of the Hecla on 10 July, 1900.[21] A few months later he was appointed to command the torpedo training school Defiance on 1 November, 1900.[22] Soon afterwards, he was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1900.[23] While commanding Defiance, Hamilton married Mabel Eveline Sang in April 1901.[24]

Hamilton was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, on 18 May, 1904.[25] After retirement, Hamilton was appointed Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade, and on at least one occasion was in personal command of firemen in action against a serious fire.[26]

Hamilton was present at the Guildhall Banquet on 10 November, 1908.[27]

Hamilton attended a Levée held by King Edward VII at St. James's Palace on 23 February, 1909.[28]

Hamilton was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) dated 19 July, 1909.[29]

Hamilton was promoted to Rear-Admiral on the Retired List on 22 July, 1910.[30]

On 2 April, 1912, Hamilton presided over a Royal Navy Club dinner at the Whitehall Rooms commemorating Lord Rodney's victory over Comte de Grasse at the Battle of the Saintes.[31]

In late 1919 he was appointed by Home Secretary Edward Shortt to a Committee "to inquire and report upon the hours, pay, and conditions of service of firemen in professional fire brigades in Great Britain".[32]

Hamilton attended a fiftieth anniversary dinner with other surviving officers present at Alexandria at the United Service Academy on 11 July, 1932. He was the only officer from the Helicon in attendance, as his shipmate Charles Anson was unable to attend.[33]

Hamilton was elected as a Vice-President on the council of the Royal Society of Arts for 1933-34 on 28 June, 1933.[34]

His daughter Doreen married Hilary Norman, second son of Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir William Norman in Shanghai during April 1934.[35]

Hamilton died at his home, 5 Dawson Place, London, on 24 February, 1936.[36]

See Also

Bibliography

  • "Rear-Admiral Hamilton" (Obituary). The Times. Wednesday, 26 February, 1936. Issue 47308, col D, p. 14.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 3
28 Apr, 1885[37] 		Succeeded by
James W. Litle
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M. T.B. 35
7 Jul, 1887[38] 		Succeeded by
Arthur H. D. Ravenhill
Preceded by
William J. Scullard 		Captain of H.M.S. Hecla
10 Jul, 1900[39] 		Succeeded by
John I. Graham
Preceded by
Frederick T. Hamilton 		Captain of H.M.S. Defiance
1 Nov, 1900[40] – 14 Aug, 1903[Inference] 		Succeeded by
Cecil E. E. Carey
Preceded by
Harry L. d'E. Skipwith 		Captain of H.M.S. Dreadnought
21 Jul, 1903[41] 		Succeeded by
Richard H. Walters

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Wednesday, 4 December, 1872. Issue 27551, col F, p. 7.
  2. ↑ Hamilton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87/108
  3. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1880). p. 96.
  4. ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1881). p. 95.
  5. ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1881). p. 95.
  6. ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1881). p. 216.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 25169. p. 5173. 17 November, 1882.
  8. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1882). p. 216.
  9. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1883). p. 206.
  10. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1883). p. 206.
  11. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1884). p. 213.
  12. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1885). p. 253.
  13. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1885). p. 214.
  14. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1885). p. 256.
  15. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  16. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Friday, 21 November, 1890. Issue 33175, col F, p. 6.
  17. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1891). p. 239.
  18. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. Tuesday, 17 October, 1893 Issue 34084, col B, p. 5.
  19. ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1900). p. 81.
  20. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. Wednesday, 6 July, 1898. Issue 35561, col C, p. 8.
  21. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. Thursday, 5 July, 1900. Issue 36186, col D, p. 10.
  22. ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1901). p. 245.
  23. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27623. p. 82. 4 January, 1901.
  24. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 23 February, 1901. Issue 36386, col F, p. 11.
  25. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27678. p. 3265. 20 May, 1904.
  26. ↑ "Fire at Loughborough Junction". The Times. Monday, 18 January, 1909. Issue 38859, col E, p. 18.
  27. ↑ "Guildhall Banquet". The Times. Tuesday, 10 November, 1908. Issue 38800, col A, p. 9.
  28. ↑ "The King's Levée". The Times. Wednesday, 23 February, 1909. Issue 38891, col F, p. 14.
  29. ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette: no. 12163. p. 809. 27 July, 1909.
  30. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28400. p. 5396. 26 July, 1910.
  31. ↑ "Court Circular". The Times. Wednesday, 3 April, 1912. Issue 39863, col B, p. 11.
  32. ↑ "Pay of Firemen". The Times. Saturday, 20 December, 1919. Issue 42288, col D, p. 9.
  33. ↑ "Court Circular". The Times. Tuesday, 12 July, 1932. Issue 46183, col B, p. 17.
  34. ↑ "Royal Society of Arts". The Times. Saturday, 1 July, 1933. Issue 46485, col B, p. 10.
  35. ↑ "Court Circular". The Times. Tuesday, 23 January, 1934. Issue 46659, col B, p. 15.
  36. ↑ "Rear-Admiral Hamilton" (Obituary). The Times. Wednesday, 26 February, 1936. Issue 47308, col D, p. 14.
  37. ↑ The Navy List. (June, 1885). p. 214.
  38. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence". The Times. Saturday, 2 July, 1887. Issue 32114, col C, p. 12.
  39. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, 5 July, 1900. Issue 36186, col D, p. 10.
  40. ↑ The Navy List. (May, 1903). p. 246a.
  41. ↑ "APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NAVAL MANOEUVRES." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Jul 16, 1903; pg. 8; Issue 37134.

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