Gavin Hamilton (British Army officer)

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Gavin Hamilton


Place of death	Port Howard, Falkland Islands
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1981 - 1982
Rank	Captain
Unit	19 (Mountain) Troop, D Squadron 22 SAS
Battles/wars	Pebble Island, Operation Paraquet
Awards	Military Cross (Posthumous)

Captain Gavin John Hamilton MC Green Howards (att SAS) was the Officer Commanding (OC) 19 (Mountain) Troop, D Squadron, 22 Special Air Service during the Falklands War in 1982. He was killed whilst behind enemy lines on West Falkland on 10 June 1982.

During the conflict, Hamilton and his Troop were responsible for some of the most successful SAS operations carried out in the campaign.

Having survived two helicopter crashes in appalling weather conditions on the Fortuna Glacier in South Georgia during Operation Paraquet, two days later Captain Hamilton led the advance elements of the forces which captured the main Argentinian positions in Grytviken. This action resulted in the total surrender of all enemy forces in South Georgia.

A short while later, Captain Hamilton led his troop into the raid on Pebble Island which resulted in the destruction of eleven grounded enemy aircraft.

Once British ground forces had landed at San Carlos, Captain Hamilton deployed with his Squadron 40 miles behind the enemy lines to observe the main enemy defensive positions in Port Stanley. Again, his leadership and courage proved instrumental over seven days of continuous operations in seizing this vital ground from which the attack on Port Stanley was ultimately launched. On 27 May he identified an Argentinian probe into the squadron position and in the ensuing battle captured a prisoner of war. The next night he and his troop held of another enemy attack and by doing so enabled 42 Commando Royal Marines to fly in as planned to reinforce the position on 31 May, an important step in the repossession of the Falklands. On the following day he ambushed another enemy patrol, wounding three and capturing all five members of the patrol."

On 5th June, he was deployed in command of a four man observation patrol into positions, again behind enemy lines on West Falkland to carry out observation of Argentinian activities in Port Howard. He managed to establish himself in a position only 2500 metres from the Argentine positions, from which he sent detailed and accurate reports on the enemy. Shortly after dawn on 10 June he realised that he and his radio operator had been surrounded in a forward position. Although heavily outnumbered by soldiers from the 1st Section 601 Commando Company and with no reinforcements available he gave the order to engage the enemy, telling his signaller that they should both attempt to fight their way out of the encirclement. Since the withdrawal route was completely exposed to enemy observation and fire he initiated the fire fight in order to allow his signaller to move first. After the resulting exchange of fire he was wounded in the back and it became clear to his signaller that Hamilton was only able to move with difficulty. Nevertheless he told his signaller that he could continue to hold off the enemy while the signaller made good his escape, and he then proceeded to give further covering fire. Shortly after that he was killed. ^[1]