Orders and medals, awarded to General Sir Ian Hamilton

These orders and medals were awarded to General Sir Ian Hamilton. They range from medals awarded for service in campaigns in Afghanistan (1878-80) and Egypt (1882-88) to the medal awarded to mark the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935. The lower two Orders were awarded to Hamilton by Kaiser Wilheim II in the early 1900s when he attended manoeuvres in Germany.

Hamilton's reputation as a brilliant commander was destroyed by the disastrous failure of the Gallipoli expedition in 1915. Although he had come close to success in difficult circumstances, Hamilton had to take personal responsibility for failure and was removed from command. His many decorations reflect his varied and highly successful career before Gallipoli. They include orders of foreign nations awarded by custom to high-ranking officers. He had also earned a reputation for personal bravery and was twice recommended for the Victoria Cross. Yet his name is principally remembered in connection with the failure at Gallipoli.

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