IAN HAMILTON,

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 24, 28 July 1900, Page 1

LAN HAMILTON,

Lan Standisk Monteith Hamilton — let the name be given in full, foe every word of it tells of 'a noble family history — is a soldier's son. > The Daily Mail tells us he was bora in a fortress forty-seven years ago. Educated at Wellington College, he obtained his commission in the old 12th Foot, but soon was trans* ferred to the Gordon Highlanders. There was much in the regimt-nfe to attract a " lad o' pairts,*' and Lieutenant Hamilton had not long to wait for his first fcast6 of battie. In 1879 the Gordons were ordered to take part in th© Afghan War, Hamilton was twice mentioned in the despatches^ for his conspicuous services, and came away with a medal and two clasps. Everyone has heard the tale of the great night march of 600 men to the very summit of the hill of Majuba. In that march lan Hamilton took his share with the three companies of his regiment. The Highlanders had newly arrived, and had been hurried up to the front. They were keen to be the first in a great yictory. Lan Hamilton was one of the earliest to- scent danger. He was posted with his men on the northern face of the hill, and it is said that he - went to Colley and implored him to surround fche hill with outposts. But this was not done. Then, when the Boers came up and the fears proved too well founded, he asked leave to charge, but leave was withheld. He saw Boers taking cover and tried, with twenty or thirty of hia man, to bring an effective fire to bear on them. In the hour of panic he and his lads bravely and stubborply held their ground. He was severely wounded, and narrowly escaped death. That battle had one great effect on the young officers mind. It made him a fanatic on one question. He saw that oup | soldiers were defeated because they could not shoot, and he resolved to devote himself to improving the the shooting of the army. He hag well done this. In 1898 he was appointed commandant of the School of Musketry at Hythe. In 1882 Captain Hamilton wenfe back to India and became aide-de-camp to General Roberts. He found his chief as keen on the great shooting question as he was, General Roberts encouraged rifle meetings and took to rifle shooting himself, as did Captain Hamilton, and other officers- of the persona} staff. The captain took part in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85, where he again earned the coveted mentioq in the despatches and the brevet rank of major. In the Burmese Expedition of 1886-87 his deeda once more secured him special mention, together with the breveji rank of lieutenant-colonel. Then, at the special request of General Roberts, he took oyer the Indian Army. In the South African campaign he commanded the infantry brigade at Elandalaagte, where he repeivgd tho Victorian Cross for his bra.Y©#y.