Pause for thought, In memory!10 Jul 2018 11:22
For all Falkland Shareholders, we would not be here, if not for those that gave their lives for today's generation.
Captain Gavin John Hamilton MC (died 10 June 1982) was the Officer Commanding (OC) 19 (Mountain) Troop, D Squadron, 22 Special Air Service (SAS)
during the Falklands War in 1982. He was killed whilst behind enemy lines on West Falkland on 10 June 1982. Hamilton was a Green Howards officer before passing SAS selection and being attached to 22 SAS. He was the first ever posthumous recipient of the Military Cross and the only such recipient until the war in Afghanistan nearly twenty years later. Before the Falklands, Hamilton had served in Cyprus, Belize and South Armagh in Northern Ireland, On 5 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 Argentine activities at Port Howard.
He established himself in an observation post only 2500 metres from the Argentine positions, from which he sent detailed and accurate reports on the enemy position and activities. Shortly after dawn on 10 June he realised that he and a radio operator had been surrounded in a forward position. Although heavily outnumbered by troops of the 1st Section 601 Commando Company, and with no reinforcements available to call upon for assistance, Hamilton ordered an engagement of the enemy force, instructing the signaller with him 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 a firefight in order to cover the signaller's withdrawal first.
After the resulting exchange of fire Hamilton was wounded in the back and it became clear to the signaller that Hamilton was only able to move with difficulty. Nevertheless, he instructed the radio-operator that he would continue to hold off the Argentinians to cover his escape, which he then did. Shortly after this he was killed. Hamilton was buried with full military honors by the Argentinians. The Argentine Army commando patrol commander involved, First Lieutenant José Martiniano Duarte, met Hamilton's wife (Vicky Hamilton) in 2001 and praised the heroism of the SAS officer. Hamilton was posthumously awarded the Military Cross. Some think he should have been given a Victoria Cross (VC). But because no superior officer was present during this action no VC was awarded. When the Argentine Commander of Port Howard, Colonel Juan Ramon Mabragaña, was interrogated after the Argentine surrender, he asked that 'the SAS Captain' be decorated for his actions as he was 'the most courageous man I have ever seen'.
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