The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. H R Hamilton

Harry Raymond Hamilton, of Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada was born on 15th May 1917, the son of Walter Wesley Hamilton and Nina Pearl Hamilton.

He arrived in London aboard the RMS Ausonia on 13th April 1936, having embarked at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Hamilton joined the RAF on a short service commission in October 1936. After induction he was posted to 3 FTS Grantham on 11th January 1937 and joined 46 Squadron at Digby on 7th August.

By early 1940 Hamilton was serving with 611 Squadron before being posted to 85 Squadron at Debden on 25th May as a Flight Commander.

On 30th July he shared in the destruction of a Me110, on 18th August he claimed a Me110 destroyed and shared a He111.

On the 29th he destroyed a Me109 and was then himself shot down and killed over Winchelsea.

Hamilton's Hurricane, V6623, crashed near the ruins of Camber Castle, a stone marks the spot (below).

Hamilton was 23 years old and is buried in Folkestone New Cemetery, Kent.

Its possible that further remains were discovered later, this grave at Northiam (below) approximates the site and date of his loss but it is a mystery why a location closer to Camber was not found.