Norwegian War Cross awarded to Admiral Sir Louis Henry Keppel Hamilton KCB DSO (1890-1957). A bronze sword on the ribbon.The Norwegian War Cross was awarded to Admiral Hamilton for operations at Narvik 1940 while commanding HMS 'Aurora'.

The War Cross is a bronze Trefoil cross with the arms of Norway in the centre on a crowned shield. It is suspended from a wreath of oak. The ribbon is red with a central stripe of blue flanked by thin white stripes on which is a small bronze sword. It was instituted by King Haakon VII in 1941 and awarded for great personal gallantry in action with the enemy. The recipient was awarded a bronze sword attached to the ribbon of the cross.

Hamilton (known throughout his career as 'Turtle'), was the son of Admiral Sir Frederick Tower Hamilton. He entered the Navy in 1903. After Dartmouth he served on the Mediterranean Station, 1908 to 1910, in the 'Albemarle' and the 'Prince of Wales'. Between 1910 and 1911 he was in the 'Vanguard' in the Channel and went in the ‘Venus’ to the Indian Durbar of 1911. He was made lieutenant in 1913, after which he went to the 'Cumberland' and took a prominent part in the Cameroons operations, 1914 to 1915. Subsequently he began a long service commanding destroyers in the Harwich Force. Between 1915 and 1916 he was in the 'Moorsom' and in the 'Taurus' from 1917 to 1918. He was appointed to the 'Strenuous', home waters, in 1921, to the 'Queen Elizabeth', home waters, 1922 to 1924 and in 1925 to the Royal Yacht, 'Victoria and Albert', becoming a commander in 1926. He next served in the destroyers 'Wanderer' and 'Wild Swan', Mediterranean and China, 1927 to 1928, returned to the Mediterranean for a short period in 1929 and was at the Admiralty from 1931 to 1932. He was promoted to captain in 1932, commanded the 'Norfolk', flagship on the East Indies Station 1935 to 1937, and was Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 1938 to 1939. Promoted to rear-admiral in 1941, he commanded the First Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet, from 1940 to 1942, during which he was ordered to abandon the Arctic convoy PQ17. He was Flag Officer, Malta, 1943 to 1945, and then went to Australia as First Member of the Commonwealth Naval Board, 1945 to 1948. He was made an admiral in 1947 and retired in 1948.

The museum also holds the following: DSO and bar (MED2288) 1914-15 Star (MED2289), British War Medal (MED2290), Victory Medal (MED2291), 1939-45 Star (MED2292), Atlantic Star (MED2293), Italy Star (MED2294), Defence Medal (MED2295), War Medal with oak leaf (MED2296), George V Coronation Medal (MED2297), George V Jubilee 1935 (MED2298), George VI Coronation 1937 (MED2299) and King’s Gold Medal 1901-1910 (MED2303). The museum also holds Admiral Hamilton’s decorations, miniature medals and papers relating to his career.