Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton Biography and Timeline

Battle of Elandslaagte

Hamilton helps direct the British infantry attack that defeats the Boer force at Elandslaagte.

Role range: 1899-1902

Battle of Doornkop

Hamilton leads British forces in the action at Doornkop during Roberts's advance toward Johannesburg.

Role range: 1899-1902

Battle of Diamond Hill

Hamilton commands part of the British force attacking Boer positions east of Pretoria at Diamond Hill.

Role range: 1899-1902

Sweeps Against Commandos

Leads mobile sweeps against Boer commandos.

Role range: 1899-1902 – 1901-1902

Battle of Rooiwal

Hamilton coordinates the wider British operations that bring Kemp's commandos against the prepared position at Rooiwal.

Role range: 1899-1902

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief, Home Defence Army in Britain

General

Appointed General

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief, Home Defence Army in Britain

Role range: 1914-1918

Mediterranean Expeditionary Force Command Received

Hamilton is appointed to command the force being assembled for land operations at the Dardanelles.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Dardanelles Army Headquarters Established

Hamilton establishes headquarters and begins organising the multinational force for the peninsula invasion.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Kilid Bahr Plateau Set as Strategic Objective

Hamilton identifies the Kilid Bahr plateau as essential for neutralising the forts covering the Narrows.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Invasion Fleet Assembled at Mudros

Hamilton oversees final preparations as more than two hundred vessels assemble at Mudros for the invasion.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Landing Delayed Two Days by Weather

Hamilton delays the invasion from 23 to 25 April because rough weather disrupts the assault timetable.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Naval Gunfire Support Allocated to Landing Beaches

Hamilton coordinates with naval commanders to allocate bombardment and transport support for the landings.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Anzac Evacuation Rejected after Landing

Hamilton orders the Anzacs to hold their ground rather than abandon the beachhead on the first night.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Cape Helles Landings Launched

Hamilton launches the main British landings on five beaches around Cape Helles.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Battle of Gallipoli

Commands the 1st troop landings on Gallipoli with the 29th Div & Australian & NZ corps

Role range: 1914-1918

ANZAC

Celebrated as ANZAC day

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Gallipoli

Responsible for the Gallipoli front by leading the Mediterranean expeditionary force. Expects a 2 day advantage in which the Turks would be confused but is dissappointed. Celebrated as ANZAC day

Role range: 1914-1918

Helles Advance Timetable Pressed

Hamilton urges the Helles force forward before Ottoman reinforcements can consolidate.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

First Krithia Offensive Fails

Hamilton's first Helles offensive fails to break the Ottoman line despite heavy Allied casualties.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Anzac Reinforcements Sent to Helles

Hamilton transfers Australian and New Zealand infantry from ANZAC to reinforce a renewed attack at Helles.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Second Krithia Offensive Opened

Hamilton opens the second attempt to capture Krithia with strengthened British, French and ANZAC forces.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Second Krithia Offensive Halted

Hamilton halts the second Krithia offensive after heavy losses produce only a small advance.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Third Krithia Offensive Ends without Breakthrough

Hamilton's third Krithia offensive ends without capturing the village or breaking the Ottoman defence.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Third Krithia Offensive Launched

Hamilton launches the third major Allied attempt to capture Krithia and the heights of Achi Baba.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Helles Reinforcement Requests Sent

Hamilton repeatedly requests additional divisions as the campaign becomes a prolonged struggle.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Royal Naval Division Reinforced Gallipoli Front

Hamilton employs Royal Naval Division battalions to reinforce overstretched sectors of the peninsula.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Suvla Outline Scheme Given to Stopford

Hamilton briefs Stopford on the proposed Suvla landing and the need to seize the Tekke Tepe and Kiretch Tepe high ground.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Mediterranean Reinforcement Build-Up Approved

Hamilton receives additional formations for a new attempt to break the Gallipoli deadlock.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Suvla Landing Added to August Plan

Hamilton adds a new landing at Suvla to support the planned breakout from Anzac.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Battle of Gallipoli

Reinforcements arrive when IX Corps land at Suvla

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Gallipoli

A 2nd failed attempt is made to land at Gallipoli

Role range: 1914-1918

Suvla Command Criticised for Delay

Hamilton becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the slow advance from the Suvla beachhead.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Tekke Tepe Advance Forestalled

Hamilton observes that Ottoman reinforcements have reached Tekke Tepe before the delayed British advance can secure the ridge.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Hamilton Reviews Suvla Position with Stopford

Hamilton meets Stopford again as he considers renewed attempts to seize the inland high ground after the Norfolk losses.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Stopford Removed from Suvla Command

Hamilton removes Stopford after the Suvla force fails to exploit the surprise achieved by the landing.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Scimitar Hill Offensive Ordered

Hamilton orders a major Suvla attack against Scimitar Hill and neighbouring positions.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

August Offensive Fails to Break Stalemate

Hamilton's August offensive ends without gaining the decisive heights or breaking the strategic deadlock.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915

Evacuation Estimate Opposed

Hamilton argues that withdrawing from Gallipoli could cause catastrophic casualties and damage British prestige.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1915