Walter Hamilton

Hamilton joined the British Indian Army and served with the Corps of Guides during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He received the Victoria Cross for gallantry at Futtehabad in April 1879, where he led a charge to recover the body of a fallen officer.

Later that year he commanded the escort protecting Sir Louis Cavagnari at the British Residency in Kabul. Hamilton and the Guides resisted the attack of 3 September until the mission was overwhelmed. The Far Pavilions gives the fictional Ash a close friendship with Hamilton while retaining the historical outcome of the defence.