Hamilton Charles "Derck" Upton

43 squadron pilots at Wick, Caithness during the Battle of Britain from Left to Right -
J Arbuthnot, R Plenderleith, HJL Hallowes* , JWC Simpson, PW Townsend* & Upton

RAF & RCAF S/L - DFC

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Born in Manchester, England, 13 March 1912;
educated at Southampton College (1918-1920)
Hayle Grammar School, Cornwall (1920-1923)
and Harrow (1924-1929).
It would appear that he visited relatives in Canada three times before the war, and that on the last occasion he obtained a job with the St. John Ambulance Society. However, he then joined the RAF on 26 June 1939;
No. 43 & 607 squadrons RAF
transferring to the RCAF on 24 July 1945 (C97015).
He retired from that force on 1 December 1953
with the rank of Squadron Leader,
and died in Canada in 1965.
Public Records Office Air 2/8893 has
recommendation dated 25 February 1941.

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UPTON, F/O Hamilton Charles (42544) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.43 Squadron
Awarded as per London Gazette dated 29 April 1941.

Pilot Officer Upton was shot down on 8th and 16th August 1940, but in spite of these two reverses still showed great keenness to engage the enemy.

To the above, on 25 February 1941, Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory added:

Over a long period including the intensive operations of the summer and autumn of 1940 this gallant young officer carried out his duties in the best traditions of the Service. In particular on 16th August he scored a magnificent success by destroying three enemy bombers. He has personally destroyed 9 7/12 enemy aircraft and probably destroyed a further one. I strongly recommend him for the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Draft as sent to Honours Committee read as follows:

This officer has been actively engaged in operations against the enemy over a long period, including the intensive operations over this country in the summer and autumn of 1940. He has destroyed nine hostile aircraft, three of which he shot down in one day, and has shared in the destruction of others. He has shown the greatest keenness to engage the enemy.

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Victories Include :

12 July 1940           1/4 He ?      destroyed
8 Aug. 1940       two Ju 87       destroyed
                              one Ju 87       probable
13 Aug. 1940         one Do 17 destroyed
15 Aug. 1940         1/3 Ju 88        destroyed
16 Aug. 1940       three Ju 87     destroyed
18 Aug. 1940         one Ju 87       destroyed
                               one Me 109   destroyed
4 Sept. 1940         one Me 110   destroyed

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--- Canadian Aces ---

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On these pages I use info from the Air force Association of Canada's web site
in Hugh Halliday's excellent Honors & Awards section,
Newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC)
as well as other sources both published and private