Charles Blackley Hamilton of Girvan, Ayrshire, joined the RAF around June 1940 as an Aircraft Hand. He volunteered for aircrew duties and probably went on a short Radar Course at Yatesbury. In early September 1940, Hamilton joined 219 Squadron at Catterick as a Radar Operator. In October 1943, he was serving as a Warrant Officer with 85 Squadron at West Malling. In the late evening of the 15th October, he was flying with Flying Officer H. B. Thomas when they shot down a Ju88 which crashed at St Nicholas-at-Wade, Kent.

 

Commissioned in February 1944, Hamilton was awarded the DFC (gazetted 26 September 1944). He then assisted in the destruction of four enemy aircraft. Hamilton was still with 85 Squadron when he was killed on 14 April 1945. Flying Mosquito NFXXX NT494, he took off from RAF Swannington. But in the early hours of the 14th, was shot down by a night-fighter off the north coast of Germany. The details remain unclear. But it seems the Pilot, F/Lt H. B. Thomas was wounded and taken as a prisoner of war until liberated in Kiel; while Hamilton was killed, aged 23.

 

Flying Officer Charles Blackley Hamilton’s body was recovered and buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany.

 

In September last year, 2017, a spray of poppies was placed on Charles’ grave by Mrs Evelyn Brown. Evelyn lives in Norwich, but was visiting her mother in Germany, near to the place where Charles is buried. On hearing of this Commemoration at Haveringland, she kindly offered to lay poppies on behalf of the Hamilton Family in Scotland and New Zealand.

 

The following are her words:

 

‘The helpful Gardener who found the grave for us does a wonderful job keeping the graves looking their best and told me that she really enjoyed her job. She certainly takes pride in what she is doing and deserves recognition for her good work. Our brave lads are well looked after and remembered.’

 

The picture shows the grave at Ohlsdorf Military Cemetery of Flying Officer Charles Blackley Hamilton DFC showing the poppies in front of it.

 

 

The two ladies in the photograph are (right) the mother of Evelyn Brown from Norwich, who lives in Germany and the German CWGC Worker who tends to Charles’ grave (left).

 

With kind permission of the Hamilton Family

 

 

This article is from the Spring 2018 issue of Confound and Destroy