The Order was founded in April 1896 by Queen Victoria as a way of rewarding
personal service to her and was awarded on her own initiative rather than by
ministerial recommendation. The Order was, and is today, entirely within
the Sovereign's personal gift. The anniversary of the institution of the
Order is 20th June, the day of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne.
The Order consists of 5 classes: Knight Grand Cross (GCVO), Knight Commander
(KVCO), Commander (CVO), Lieutenant (LVO) and Member (MVO). Women were not
admitted to the Order before May 1936.
While there have never been any limits on the number of appointments made, there
were only two awards linked to the Boer War:
MVO 4th Class, Nr 106. QSA (3) CC OFS Trans (Director IY HP
Staff). KSA (2) (Director and Treasurer IY Hosp). 1910 Union of South
Africa Medal.
Spinks. Oct 99. £1,000.
MVO London Gazette 20 Feb 1903.
Mr John Gardiner Hamilton, MVO, was awarded the MVO for
his services in the Boer War as the Honorary Director, Imperial Yeomanry
Hospitals. This Royal award was to compensate Hamilton for a
regrettable error by Lord Kitchener's Chief of Staff that deprived him of a
well-deserved CMG in 1902.
Hamilton, a prominent figure in Johannesburg and Vice-President of the
Chamber of Mines, devoted himself to the cause of the Imperial Yeomanry
Hospitals during the Boer War. The Imperial Yeomanry Hospitals were
the largest private hospitals in South Africa and had more branches than any
other. They were originated by Lady Chesham and Lady Georgina Howe
(Countess Curzon) and it was the latter who brought Hamilton to the notice
of Lord Kitchener in September 1901.
'I hope you will pardon me for troubling you with a
letter upon a subject which will require no answer, but which I would
earnestly ask you to bear in mind when the right time comes. The terms
of approbation in which you have spoken of the Yeomanry Hospitals have been
reported to me by Colonel Kilkelly, and I am anxious to bring to your notice
the valuable services of Mr J G Hamilton, the Hon Treasurer and Civilian
Director of our hospitals in Africa. For nearly two years, the
Yeomanry Hospitals have been at the disposal of the South African Field
Force, and during that period, Mr Hamilton has devoted his whole time to the
business and financial administration of our hospitals. His services
were, of course, given free and I can assure you that the post he held has
been no sinecure. All intricate negotiations with military and
civilian authorities have been invariably brought to a successful issue by
the great tact he has throughout displayed. As Chairman of the I Y
Fund Committee, I know that I can truly say that if you find it in your
power to recommend Mr Hamilton for any special recognition of his services,
such recognition would be considered by the members of the Committee as a
direct compliment for their individual arduous labours. I am convinced
Colonel Kilkelly will endorse my words about Mr. Hamilton. It is with
much hesitation I write, not only because it is intruding on your valuable
time, but because I dislike the idea of asking for rewards; but my excuse is
that Mr Hamilton's devotion to his work has been so marked, and yet so
unostentatious, that I think it might be passed over and remain unknown.
In addition to this, Mr Hamilton is a civilian, and represents in Africa an
organisation that has been managed entirely by a Committee of ladies.
Consequently, I hardly see who will place his name before you unless I do so
myself. I feel sure I can safely leave the matter in your hands.'
Colonel Kilkelly did indeed back the Recommendation of
Hamilton for an award and wrote to Major Congreve, Kitchener's Military
Secretary:
'I have just spoken to Colonel Hamilton about a
namesake of his who is the Honorary Director and Treasurer of the Imp
Yeomanry Hospitals in S.A. He has done very good work and consistently
so ever since the I.Y. hospitals were first started. He has not been
mentioned in any of the late despatches. He represents the committee
out here and Countess Howe (our Chairman) has written to me and is
particularly anxious for some notice to be taken of him. I have
explained everything about his case to Hamilton.
His full name is: J.G. Hamilton, Honorary Civilian
Director and Treasurer of Imp. Yeomanry Hospitals.'
Hamilton was Mentioned in Lord Kitchener's final
Despatch (London Gazette 23 Jul 1902 refers) but did not receive any other
reward, which prompted Lady Howe to write on 3 Dec 1902 to an un-named
General [but probably Ian Hamilton]:
'I returned from South Africa on Saturday, and am
indeed most frightfully disappointed at seeing no mention of Mr. J.G.
Hamilton's name in the last List of Honours. You will remember that I
wrote to you on this subject, but I also wrote to Lord Kitchener, and from
him I had a most favourable reply. In fact, he told me that he had
recommended Mr. Hamilton for the C.M.G. On all sides, Mr. Hamilton's
work on behalf of our Hospitals has been most highly praised. While I
was in Africa, and indeed, in England before I left, I heard nothing but
praise of the manner in which he had carried through all work in connection
with the Yeomanry Hospitals in Africa. It does really seem most hard
that after giving up the whole of his time for two years to voluntarily work
for our hospitals, he should be passed over when many others who held
similar positions to other private hospitals did not have their names
omitted from previous Lists.'
