| Hamilton Reed | |
| Birth Date: | 23 May 1869 |
| Death Date: | 7 March 1931 (aged 61) |
| Birth Place: | Dublin, Ireland |
| Death Place: | South Kensington, London |
| Placeofburial: | East Sheen Cemetery |
| Serviceyears: | 1888 – 1927 |
| Rank: | Major General |
| Branch: | British Army |
| Commands: | 15th (Scottish) Division 52nd (Lowland) Division |
| Unit: | Royal Artillery |
| Battles: | Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards: | Victoria Cross Order of the Bath Order of St Michael and St George Legion of Honour (France) Croix de Guerre (France) |
| Relations: | Sir Andrew Reed (father) Harry Hammon Lyster VC (uncle) |
Major General Hamilton Lyster Reed,, (23 May 1869 – 7 March 1931) was an Irish British Army officer, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born in Dublin, he was the son of Sir Andrew Reed, a senior police official. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich,[1] and gazetted into the Royal Field Artillery as a second lieutenant on 17 February 1888.
Reed was promoted to lieutenant on 17 February 1891, and to captain on 14 September 1898.[2] Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in late 1899, he went to South Africa on active service.[3] He took part in the Ladysmith Relief Force, including the Battle of Colenso on 15 December 1899, where he was wounded.
He was a 30 years old captain in 7th Battery, Royal Field Artillery during the battle of Colenso on 15 December 1899. The detachments serving the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, had all been either killed, wounded, or driven from their guns by Infantry fire at close range, and the guns were deserted. His citation mentions the following deed, for which he was awarded the VC:
After the end of regular warfare, the war turned into a guerrilla war in late 1900. During the later part of the war, Reed served as a Staff Officer, in the position of Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General for Intelligence from 12 June 1901.
The War ended in June 1902. Reed left Cape Town in the SS Dilwara in late July, and arrived in Southampton the following month.[4] He returned to the Royal Artillery as a regular officer in January 1903.
Reed was a Military Attaché with the Turkish Army during the Balkan Wars of 1912–13.[1] He was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel in February 1914, while serving as a GSO2 with Eastern Command.
He served with the British Army throughout the First World War,[5] receiving the Brevet of Colonel in 1916 for his role in the evacuation of Gallipoli. He became a temporary major general and General Officer Commanding, 15th (Scottish) Division from 1917 to 1919.[1]
He then received a permanent promotion to major general in June 1919 and served as General Officer Commanding, 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division from June 1923 until he retired in June 1927.[6]
He died in London on 7 March 1931.[5]
His son Andrew was killed in 1940 during the Battle of France whilst serving with the RAF.[7]
His medals are part of the Lord Ashcroft collection and are held by the Imperial War Museum, London.[8]