John Patrick Hamilton

John Patrick Hamilton VC (29 January 1896- 27 February 1961) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 19 years old, and a private in the 3rd Battalion (N.S.W.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 9 August 1915, at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, Turkey, during a heavy bomb attack by the enemy on the newly captured position, Private Hamilton, with utter disregard for personal safety, exposed himself to heavy enemy fire on the parades, in order to secure a better fire position against the enemy's bomb throwers. His daring example had an immediate effect. The defence was encouraged and the enemy driven off with heavy loss.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - Gallipoli (Stephen Snelling, 1995)

External links

* [http://www.ozemail.com.au/~vcweb/winners/hamilton.htm HAMILTON J.P.]
* [http://www.iol.net.au/~conway/vicross/hamilton.html Private J Hamilton] "(photo, brief details)"