Newport Past
Captain Hamilton - Newport Dock Disaster
Photo reference number: 625
Dr (Captain) Hamilton lead the St John Ambulance Brigade rescue team. A local GP from Commercial Street, he was the first Doctor to arrive at the scene of the disaster. Doctors Cook, Neville and Lloyd Davies arrived later.
Dr Hamilton said, 'I was summoned by telephone. I hurried down to the site on a bicycle. Men could be heard shouting, although they couldn't be seen. It was found that 5 men were alive. I managed to climb down a short way. I gave restoratives to some of the men. One man was trapped by the legs, I gave him brandy.'
He was awarded the Arnott Memorial Medal for his heroism. This has remained in Newport and can now be seen in Newport Museum.
Captain Hamilton's Arnott Medal