Kent Remembers: Cyril Hamilton
Thursday 6th November 2025
Born: 12.8.1909, Adelaide, South Australia. Died: 10. 2.1941 Keren, Eritrea
Kent 1935.
Photo courtesy of Wellington College.
Judged by his performances in services cricket, Cyril Hamilton’s record for Kent is hardly a true reflection of his ability.
In the Eleven at Wellington in 1927, he scored 46 on his first-class debut, for the Army against a South American touring team in 1932. In the following week he hit the first of his two first-class centuries, 105 for the Army v RAF at The Oval.
Next season came his second, 121 for the Army v the West Indian tourists at Aldershot. Against an attack including ‘Manny’ Martindale and Herman Griffith, 286 were added for the first wicket with Reginald Hudson (181).
In the following season, chosen for Gentlemen v Players at Folkestone, he scored 50 and 19 against Maurice Tate, Arthur Wellard, George Geary and ‘Tich’ Freeman.
In matches not rated first-class, Hamilton showed a predilection for Lord’s – 83 for Army v Royal Navy in 1932, 141 for Army v Royal Navy, 101 for MCC v Scotland and 92 for Royal Artillery v Gentlemen of Essex in 1934, 135 for MCC v Ireland in 1935 and 205 for Royal Artillery v Royal Engineers in 1938.
In 1938 Hamilton married Angela Mary Garnier at Wayland, Norfolk. There was one child.
While serving during the Second World War in the Middle East, he hit a century and two half-centuries for Egypt against H.M.Martineau’s Eleven, a team made up largely of county and Test cricketers. He followed with another century and three half-centuries against the same opponents in the following year.
Although unsuccessful for Kent first team, in 1935 Hamilton took 5 for 47 against Surrey Second Eleven at Folkestone. He also appeared for Band of Brothers.
Of other sports, Hamilton played squash and racquets to a high standard and represented Scotland at hockey. The son of a Colonel in the Royal Engineers and an Australian mother, Cyril Hamilton spent part of his childhood in Ulster and, commissioned into the Royal Horse Artillery, in 1938-1939 served in Egypt and Palestine with 3 Regiment RHA.
In 1940-1941 he was posted to the elite 4th Indian Division as a battery commander with 25 Field Regiment. RA. After taking part in the assault on the frontier defences in the opening stages of General O’Connor’s Libyan offensive in December 1940, the division was moved south for the attack on Italy’s East African colonies.
Hamilton was killed during the bloody battle for Keren (often shown on maps as Cheren), when an Italian shell hit his observation post.
On his death, his estate was valued at £2,620. 5s. At the time of his death, his home in England was Shropham Hall, Beckland, Norfolk.
His widow subsequently married the 1939 Cambridge University captain Peter Studd, later Lord Mayor of London (1970-1971).
Profile adapted from Derek Carlaw’s ‘Kent County Cricketers: A to Z, 1919-1939’
Read more about some of the Kent cricketers that gave their lives in War via the Club’s Kent Remembers page below:
Kent Remembers
