A rare inter-War North-West Frontier 'V.C. Action' D.S.O. group of three awarded to Lieutena...

A rare inter-War North-West Frontier ‘V.C. Action’ D.S.O. group of three awarded to Lieutenant G. J. Hamilton, 5th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides), for his gallant conduct on 29 September 1935 when he advanced under heavy fire across a narrow Col in an attempt to support two platoons of Guides Infantry under the command of Captain G. Meynell that occupied a summit point and were in grave danger of being overwhelmed; having secured his own objective he realised the small supporting force of HQ Wing and two platoons of Guides Infantry were pinned down on an adjacent peak and unable to offer support. On his own initiative Hamilton then led a gallant charge across a narrow ridge linking the two peaks, but fell severely wounded at the head of his men, the ground being swept by fire from all sides. With the tribesmen above and around the flanks of Meynell and his few remaining men, the gallant Captain Meynell was overwhelmed and died fighting to the last in fierce hand-to-hand combat. For the ‘fine example Meynell set to his men, coupled with his determination to hold the position to the last, maintain the traditions of the Army, and reflect the highest credit on his fallen comrades’, Meynell was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Hamilton’s position was now critical. Attacked by overwhelming numbers, severely wounded and hardly able to move, he organised a defensive position to cover the withdrawal of the supporting troops, remaining in position for over three hours, during which ‘he emphatically refused to be evacuated until a final retirement was ordered’ Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, in Garrard, London, case of issue; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. G. J. Hamilton, 5-12 F F R); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (Lt. G. J. Hamilton, 5-12 F F R) minor edge bruise to IGS08, otherwise nearly extremely fine (3) £4,000-£5,000 --- D.S.O. London Gazette 24 December 1935: ‘For gallant and distinguished service in action in connection with the recent Mohmand operations, North West Frontier of India, 1935’. The official Recommendation, published in The Times on 26 October 1935 states: ‘Lieutenant Hamilton led two Platoons in support of forward companies attacked by overwhelming numbers. Severely wounded and hardly able to move, he organised a defensive position to cover the withdrawal, holding it for three hours, during which he emphatically refused to be evacuated until a final retirement was ordered. It was entirely through the action of this gallant officer that the enemy were held in check and the wounded evacuated.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 May 1936: 'For distinguished services rendered in the field in connection with the Mohmand Operations, North West Frontier of India, during the period 15/16 August to 15/16 October 1935.’ Godfrey John Hamilton was born on 31 March 1912, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Hamilton, O.B.E., and was educated at Radley and the Royal Military College Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Unattached List, Indian Army, on 1 September 1932, and was posted to Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides the following year, being promoted Lieutenant on 1 December 1934. He served with the 5th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment in the operations against the Mohmand tribesmen on the North West Frontier in 1935, and was severely wounded and awarded the D.S.O. for his gallantry in the action at Point 4080 on 29 September 1935, for which Captain Godfrey Meynell was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. The Attack on Point 4080, 29 September 1935 Documents at the India Office Library make reference to the following code names given to prominent rocky features used in official narratives; (i) high ground at Point 318367 - ‘Teeth’; (ii) rocky pinnacle East of Point 4080 - ‘Nipple’; (iii) small rocky feature about three hundred yards West of ‘Nipple’ - ‘Pimple’. The purpose of the operation was ‘clean up sniping parties which came from the head of the Wucha Jawar Valley, the direction of Muzi Kor and Zanawar China, and inflict the maximum possible loss on these elements’. The plan was for the Guides to seize and hold Teeth and from there to capture Point 4080, the object being to catch the enemy flushed from Muzi Kor and the Wucha Jawar in enfilade fire. The advance to Point 4080 was carried out in four phases; (i) the approach march from camp to the foot of the spur; (ii) Capture of ‘Teeth’ by Hamilton; (iii) Capture of ‘Nipple’ by Rendall; (iv) Capture of Point 4080. The Guides left Wucha Jawar camp at 0200 hours and strength of the force was as follows; ‘A’ Company (Lieutenant A. P. S. Rendall), 3 Indian officers and 76 Indian other ranks; ‘B’ Company (Lieutenant G. J. Hamilton), 3 Indian officers and 86 Indian other ranks; ‘C’ Company (Honorary Lieutenant Shadi Khan), 2 Indian officers and 82 Indian other ranks; HQ Wing (Major S. Good) with Captain G. Meynall Adjutant, Doherty Medical Officer, 2 Indian officers and 86 Indian other ranks; the total force consisting of 4 British officers, 1 British MO, 10 Indian officers and 330 Indian other ranks. The first phase was completed by 0400 hours, with Hamilton occupying ‘Teeth’ by 0520 hours. The third phase began with ‘C’ Company acting as advanced guard moving up a spur leading to ‘Nipple’ which was occupied at 0545 hours. The final phase then began with Shadi Khan leading two platoons from ‘C’ Company, with Rendall in close support bringing up two platoons of ‘A’ Company plus an advanced HQ party which included Meynell. The remainder of the small attacking force under Good remained on Nipple. The approach to 4080 was along a long and narrow Col which restricted the advance to single file. With daylight approaching and the tribesmen now fully alerted and in far greater numbers than anticipated, the two platoons under Shadi Khan became pinned down by heavy fire after covering a distance of two hundred yards. Having reached a position where the Col broadened out slightly, Shadi Khan formed a fire position from which the final assault could be made. At this point, Rendall and Meynell came forward, and ordering Shadi Khan to remain in his present position to give covering fire, led the final assault with two platoons from ‘A’ Company and two sections from ‘C’ Company. Despite the growing hostile fire and the difficult nature of the ground, Rendall reached one of the points of 4080, which is best described as a coxcomb being made up of several small peaks, with the two platoons of ‘A’. Battalion HQ had now established themselves across the Col and on the east face of 4080. But it was now broad daylight and in the face of such heavy fire, the supporting sections of ‘C’ were unable to scale the cliff face, with the result that Rendall and Meynell were left isolated. Major Good now realised the seriousness of the situation but was unable to communicate with the 3rd Light Battery for covering fire as the Forward Observation Officer had been wounded and the telephone lost. However a helio message was sent to Hamilton who was ordered up with two platoons, at which point the signaller was shot dead. Hamilton then advanced in an attempt to reach Rendall and Meynell but fell severely wounded at the head of his men having reached the rocky outcrop codenamed Pimple, from which point no further advance was possible, the...