Hamilton Reed

Hamilton Reed

Group portrait including Hamilton Lyster Reed (centre)
Born 23 May 1869
Dublin, Ireland
Died 7 March 1931 (aged 61)
South Kensington, London
Buried at East Sheen Cemetery
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1888 - 1919
Rank Major General
Unit Royal Artillery
Commands held 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division
Battles/wars Second Boer War
First World War
Awards Victoria Cross
Order of the Bath
Order of St Michael and St George
Croix de Guerre (France)
Relations Sir Andrew Reed (father)
Harry Hammon Lyster VC (uncle)

Major General Hamilton Lyster Reed VC CB CMG, (23 May 1869 – 7 March 1931) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Born in Dublin, he was a grandson of Hamilton Lyster, and a son of Sir Andrew Reed. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and was gazetted into the Royal Field Artillery, 13 February 1888[1]

He was 30 years old, and a captain in 7th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place during the Battle of Colenso for which he was awarded the VC:

Captain Reed, who had heard of the difficulty, shortly afterwards brought down three teams from liis battery to see if he could be of any use. He was wounded, as were five of the thirteen men who rode with him, one was killed; and thirteen out of twenty-one horses were killed before he got half-way to the guns, and he was obliged to retire.[2]

During the later part of the war, he served as a Staff Officer, in the position of Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General[3]

Reed later achieved the rank of Major general and served in the First World War.

He died in London on 7 March 1931.

His son Andrew was killed in the Battle of France whilst serving with the RAF[4]

The Medal

His Medal is part of the Lord Ashcroft collection.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Anglo Boer War.com". Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27160. p. 689. 2 February 1900. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27311. p. 3128. 7 May 1901.
  4. ↑ CWGC entry
  5. ↑ "Lord Ashcroft VC Collection". Retrieved January 15, 2013.

External links

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