Angus Falconer Douglas-Hamilton was born in Brighton on 20 Aug 1863. His father was Major General Octavius Douglas Hamilton, his mother was Katherine. He was trained at Sandhurst and commissioned into the Cameron Highlanders in 1884. He served with them in Sudan, Gibraltar, Malta, South Africa, North China and India, retiring from the army in 1912. He lived at St Mary’s, Weirbank, Melrose with his wife Anna Mackenzie. In 1914 he was recalled as a Reserve officer and, with the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel, was put in command of the 6th (Service) Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. They went to France in 1915 and were part of the 45th Brigade in the 15th (Scottish) Division.
At the battle of Loos on 25 Sep 1915, the 6th Battalion was moved up to support an attack on Cité St Auguste, a mining village east of Hill 70 where a German redoubt was sited at the top. The battalion formed a defensive line on the north slope of the hill. Three battalions were ordered to assault the hill but the Germans counter-attacked and the Camerons were driven out of Chalet Wood on 26 Sep. The battalions to the right and left of them were driven back and Douglas-Hamilton led his men forward four times, losing heavily each time. The enemy’s advance was checked due to the CO’s inspiring leadership and bravery. The last attempt to stem the enemy advance caused the battalion to be wiped out and Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas-Hamilton was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, gazetted on 18 Nov 1915. His name is inscribed on the Loos Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, and his medal is kept at Fort George.
