(Reproduced from The Navy and Army Illustrated, April 1899)

holds an unique record, for he is the first cavalry officer in the Army who has ever risen straight from the ranks to command a cavalry regiment. And he deserves the position he has won for himself, if ever a man did, for he has shown himself an exceptionally fine soldier and officer.

He joined the 2nd Life Guards as a trooper at the age of seventeen and a-half, and before he was twenty-three he had won his Commission, being appointed to the regiment he now Commands.

His war services comprise the Afghan War of 1879, in which he was, first, aide-de-camp to Sir Sam Browne, and afterwards galloper to the Officer Commanding the Cavalry Brigade at Cabul, and also the Boer War of 1881.

In all military exercises Colonel Hamilton is facile princeps. He holds the record score for shooting with the Martini Henry Carbine, and won twice running the Inter-Regimental Revolver Competition. So much for his shooting powers.

As a swordsman he competed seven times at the Royal Military Tournament in the Sword versus Sword, Mounted, competition, and for six years out of the seven was either first or second. In fact, only on one occasion was he knocked out before reaching the final.

Gilbert Hamilton comes of a soldier stock, for his father was General Hamilton, C .B., one of his brothers, Bruce Hamilton is a Major in the East Yorkshire, a brevet Colonel, and a Staff College man; another, Hubert, is a Major in the West Surrey and attached to the Egyptian Army, is also a Staff College man and wears the Distinguished Service Order, whilst the youngest, Keith, is a subaltern in the Oxfordshire Light Infantry.

Father and sons have earned sixteen medals between them .

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