Marlborough College Rugby Cap, Hugh Montgomerie Hamilton, 1870-72

Hugh Montgomerie Hamilton's Marlborough College Rugby cap, circa 1870-72, Burgundy velvet with mitre emblem embossed in metal thread on the front. Good condition, considering its' age. A very important Australian link with the earliest history of international competition. Provenance: The family, by descent. Hugh Montgomerie Hamilton (1854-1930), judge, was born at Parramatta, Son of Hugh Hamilton, a pastoralist from Ayrshire, Scotland, and his native-born wife Margaret Clunes, nee Innes, of Tomabil and Boyd stations, Forbes. Educated at Geneva, Edinburgh, and Marlborough College, England, in 1868-72, he became head of that college's modern side, captained its Rugby football team, and later played for the London club, Marlborough Nomads. Selected by England and Scotland to play in the same match, he elected to play for Scotland, which he represented in 1874 and 1875, with (Sir) William Milton, he introduced the 'Passing game' into Rugby Union. As verified by Marlborough College in England, this is a Marlborough College C3 house cap. These were their comments, Hm Hamilton belonged to C3 when he was at Marlborough ? this was where he boarded. In those days, house tournaments in all sports were a very important part of school life. The Mitre is still the C3 house emblem and C3 teams still compete in Burgundy and white. Hm Hamilton competed on the C3 rugby team in 1870, 1871 and 1872 and so this is when the C3 cap that you have dates from. I am attaching a photograph of the 1871 Marlborough XX for your interest ? Hm Hamilton is standing third down from the top on the left. The school magazine, the Marlburian recorded the following 'Character' reviews of Hm Hamilton as a member of the school team: XX 1870-71: 'HM Hamilton ? has in him the making of a good half-back, but must learn not to handle the ball so much.' XX 1871-72: 'HM Hamilton ? was unable to play during the latter part of the season. A capital half-back, being very hard to collar, and collaring well himself. Often loses a good chance by not being able to drop. Captain for 1872.