Canada, Commonwealth. A Second War Memorial Cross to Pilot Officer Hamilton, KIA 1944

A Memorial Cross, in sterling silver, reverse machine engraved P.O. I.M. HAMILTON J19966, measures 32.3 mm (w) x 35 mm (h), suspended from a sterling silver bow with horizontal pin on the reverse, light wear, better than very fine. 

Contained in the original case of issue, a black pebbled exterior, interior lid has the Memorial Cross award note taped to it, creme coloured velvet medal bed, measures 67 mm (w) x 90 mm (l) x 20 mm (d), light wear, very fine. 

Footnote: Ian McKenzie Hamilton was born in Orangeville, Ontario in 1921 and was residing in Toronto at the time of his enlistment on December 20, 1941. 

On the eve of June 8, 1944, 640 Squadron RAF Leconfield. Halifax III aircraft LK 866 C8-L was engaged in an operation to bomb rail facilities around Versailles, France when it was shot down by Lt Heinz Reuter of 7/NJG2 about 70 km South-West of Paris, crashing at Soulaires, Eure-et-Loire France. Pilot Hamilton was killed in action. One other crew member, Sergeant John William Lane, was also killed, while the others were sent to Stalag Luft I, or Buchenwald Concentration Camp before being transferred to Stalag Luft III. 

An excerpt from Flight Officer Thomas states “On our way back we were attacked by fighters. The fighters came from underneath us. All the bottom of the fuselage caught fire. The engines were still working. The intercom was u.s. The Pilot gave orders to jump out. The navigator bombed iamer, wireless operator bailed out by the first escape hatch. The rear gunner baled out by a hole in the fuselage as the main escape door could not be opened. I was going to bale out by the same way as the rear gunner, but on turning round I saw that the fire was not so bad. I went back and with the help of the engineer we managed to put the fire out. The fire was nearly out and we were hoping to get - if not back to base - into Allied occupied territory, when fighters suddenly attacked us from underneath. The fire developed. A petrol tank was on fire. Nothing could be done, so we baled out. I baled out first, the engineer second. As for the pilot, I do not know if he managed to escape.”