Captain John Hamilton: Memorial plaque in Falklands

(graphic courtesy of britains-smallwars.com here)
The memorial plaque for Captain John Hamilton MC in Port Howard, West Falkland, metres away from where he was killed in action during the Falkland Islands campaign [Picture: Cpl David Parnham, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

Soldiers lay plaque for fallen comrade in the Falklands

A History and Honour news article

11 Aug 09

British soldiers who are soon to deploy on operations to Afghanistan have travelled 8,000 miles (12,875km) to the Falkland Islands to honour and remember a regimental comrade killed in the 1982 conflict.

Three members of 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) [2 YORKS] flew to Mount Pleasant Air Base and then by helicopter to the small West Falkland settlement of Port Howard.

On 10 June 1982, at nearby Packes Ridge, Captain John Hamilton MC (Military Cross), formerly of the Green Howards, was killed while carrying out reconnaissance of Argentine positions in Port Howard.

The three soldiers from 2 YORKS took with them an inscribed plaque which they mounted on rocks close to the place where Captain Hamilton died 27 years ago. This was then dedicated in a short ceremony led by an Armed Forces padre, with several Falkland Islanders also in attendance.

One of the three 2 YORKS soldiers, Major Andrew Roe, Officer Commanding C Company 2 YORKS, said:

"It has been a tremendous privilege to be able to play a part in honouring Captain John Hamilton. I'm very pleased with how the plaque looks and hope it will serve as a fitting tribute to John's bravery for years to come."

A dedication service was held at the memorial plaque for Captain John Hamilton MC in Port Howard, West Falkland
[Picture: Cpl David Parnham, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

Captain Hamilton served in Cyprus, Belize and South Armagh before deploying to the South Atlantic in 1982.

He survived two helicopter crashes before leading the advance elements that captured Argentine positions in Grytviken, which resulted in the enemy's surrender in South Georgia.

Ten days later, he led his troop on the successful and brilliantly executed raid on Pebble Island in the Falklands.

For his bravery behind enemy lines on West Falkland in 1982, and for his preceding actions, Captain Hamilton was awarded the Military Cross.

Captain Hamilton is buried in a cemetery otherwise almost exclusively reserved for residents of Port Howard. His grave is one of 26 inside the cemetery, bordered by a white fence, on a remote hillside, beside a bay, about a mile from the settlement.

The residents of Port Howard hold Captain Hamilton in high esteem and inside a small museum filled with artefacts of the 1982 conflict, including weapons, pilot seats (from downed aircraft) and parachutes, is the webbing worn by Captain Hamilton when he died. (source: MoD here)

I found the following about the Falkand Islands war:

West Falkland

On June 5th five Four man SAS patrols were inserted onto West Falkland to observe and report the movements of the two large Argentine garrisons on West Falkland. One of these patrols was commanded by Captain Gavin John Hamilton, formerly of the Green Howards. Although Hamilton had only been with the Regiment for 5 months he was in command of G Squadrons Mountain troop. He had proved himself to be a excellent SAS officer during Operation Paraquat and the raid on Pebble Island.

On the 10th of June Hamilton and his four man patrol were using a well established OP near Port Howard when they were surrounded and out numbered by Argentine forces from the 1st Section 601 Combat Aviation Battalion. Two SAS men managed to get away but Hamilton and his signaler, Sergeant Fosenka, were pinned down. Hamilton was hit in the back by enemy fire and told Fosenka to get out while he covered him. " You carry on, I'll cover your back." Moments later Hamilton was killed. Sergeant Fosenka was later captured when he ran out of ammunition. Fosenka was not badly treated by the Argentines and Hamilton was buried with full military honors by the Argentines. The senior Argentine officer praised the heroism of the SAS officer. Hamilton was posthumously awarded the Military Cross. Some think he should have been given a VC. But because no British Officer was present during this action (apart from Hamilton himself ) no VC was awarded...

That whole entry on the Falklands War is a MUST read. Go here now, and marvel at the heroism.

"You carry on, [Captain]. I'll cover your back."

Always remembered and honoured. Rest in Peace, Captain.