Lord David Douglas-Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Lord David Douglas-Hamilton (8 November 1912 – 2 August 1944) was a Scottish
nobleman, pilot, and boxer.
The youngest son of Lt. Alfred Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton
RN
and Nina Mary Benita Poore
.
Douglas-Hamilton was one of four brothers who made history by simultaneously being at the rank of Squadron Leader or above at the outset of World War II
, he himself commanding No. 603 Squadron RAF
from 18 December 1941 till 20 July 1942.
Educated at Harrow
, and Balliol College, Oxford
. Douglas-Hamilton saw active service between 1939 and 1944, flying Spitfires in Operation Torch
over Malta
. On return to Britain, he was killed whilst carrying out reconnaissance over the French coast, and crashed in southern England.
At the 1934 Empire Games he won the bronze medal in the heavyweight class of the boxing tournament.
They had two sons:
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Lord David Douglas-Hamilton (8 November 1912 – 2 August 1944) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
nobleman, pilot, and boxer.
The youngest son of Lt. Alfred Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton
Alfred Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton
Lieutenant Alfred Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton and 10th Duke of Brandon TD, DL was a Scottish nobleman and sailor.-Life and Succession:...
RN
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and Nina Mary Benita Poore
Nina Douglas-Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton
Nina Mary Benita Douglas-Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton . She was born in Salisbury, the daughter of Major Robert Poore, married Alfred Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton and died in London....
.
Douglas-Hamilton was one of four brothers who made history by simultaneously being at the rank of Squadron Leader or above at the outset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he himself commanding No. 603 Squadron RAF
No. 603 Squadron RAF
No. 603 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The primary role of 603 Squadron, since reforming on 1 October 1999, has been as a Survive to Operate squadron, as well as providing Force Protection.-Formation and early years:No...
from 18 December 1941 till 20 July 1942.
Educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
. Douglas-Hamilton saw active service between 1939 and 1944, flying Spitfires in Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
over Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. On return to Britain, he was killed whilst carrying out reconnaissance over the French coast, and crashed in southern England.
At the 1934 Empire Games he won the bronze medal in the heavyweight class of the boxing tournament.
Marriage and issue
On 15 October 1938 he married Ann Prunella Stack, the founder of the Women's League for Health and Beauty.They had two sons:
- Diarmaid Douglas-Hamilton (b.1940), an astrophysicist at Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
- Iain Douglas-HamiltonIain Douglas-HamiltonIain Douglas-Hamilton, OBE, is a zoologist known for his study of elephants.He earned both a B.Sc. and a D.Phil. in zoology from Oriel College, Oxford, and he is the recipient of the 2010 Indianapolis Prize for his work on elephant conservation.His chief research interest is to understand elephant...
(b.1942), Zoologist, also father of television presenter Saba Douglas-HamiltonSaba Douglas-HamiltonSaba Iassa Douglas-Hamilton is a Kenyan wildlife conservationist and television presenter.-Early life:Born on a farm near Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, she is the daughter of zoologist, Iain Douglas-Hamilton and Oria Douglas-Hamilton née Rocco. Saba means "seven" in Swahili...
See also
- Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of HamiltonDouglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of HamiltonAir Commodore Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton and 11th Duke of Brandon, KT, GCVO, AFC, PC, DL, FRCSE, FRGS, was a Scottish nobleman and pioneering aviator....
- George Nigel Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk
- Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonLord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonWing Commander Lord Malcolm Avondale Douglas-Hamilton OBE, DFC was a Scottish nobleman and politician....