John Graham Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Admiral Sir John Hamilton GBE
CB
(1910–1994) was a Royal Navy
officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
.
in 1924 and specialised in gunnery in 1936.
He served in World War II
on the staff of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham
in the Mediterranean Fleet
and was then Gunnery Officer on the battleship
HMS Warspite in South East Asia. He also carried out the planning of the Naval Fire Support for the Normandy landings.
After the War he commanded HMS Alacrity before becoming Deputy Director of Radio Equipment in 1950. He went on to be Commander of the 5th Destroyer Squadron in 1952 and Director of Naval Ordnance at the Admiralty
in 1954. He was given command of the cruiser
HMS Newfoundland in 1956 and became Naval Secretary
in 1958. Then he became Flag Officer (Flotillas) for the Home Fleet in 1960 and Flag Officer, Naval Air Command in 1962. His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces, Mediterranean in 1964. He retired in 1967.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(1910–1994) was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
.
Naval career
Hamilton joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1924 and specialised in gunnery in 1936.
He served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the staff of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham
Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....
in the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
and was then Gunnery Officer on the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
HMS Warspite in South East Asia. He also carried out the planning of the Naval Fire Support for the Normandy landings.
After the War he commanded HMS Alacrity before becoming Deputy Director of Radio Equipment in 1950. He went on to be Commander of the 5th Destroyer Squadron in 1952 and Director of Naval Ordnance at the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
in 1954. He was given command of the cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
HMS Newfoundland in 1956 and became Naval Secretary
Naval Secretary
The Naval Secretary is the Royal Navy appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the RN. It is a senior RN appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Rear-Admiral. The Naval Secretary's counterpart in the British Army is...
in 1958. Then he became Flag Officer (Flotillas) for the Home Fleet in 1960 and Flag Officer, Naval Air Command in 1962. His last appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces, Mediterranean in 1964. He retired in 1967.