page_title: Hamilton Gault
section_title: Private life
hierarchical_section_title: Hamilton Gault / Private life
caption_attribution_description: Hatch Court
context_page_description: Andrew Hamilton Gault DSO was a Canadian Army officer and British politician. At his own expense, he raised the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the last privately raised regiment in the British Empire. Hatch Court in Somerset today houses a small museum commemorating Gault's military career. From 1924 to 1935 he was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Taunton, Somerset. Returning to Quebec after World War II, Gault vigilantly defended his estate of Mont Saint-Hilaire from expropriation by mining interests and bequeathed it to McGill University to help ensure its preservation.
context_section_description: Gault purchased a biplane before the First World War. Both he and his second wife were enthusiastic aviators. Gault also introduced the daughter of his deceased fiancée, Patricia Blackader, to flying when he and his wife took her up in their Gypsy Moth in Lausanne. After flying over Paris with disregard for aviation rules, the three narrowly escaped arrest on their return to Le Bourget airport. In 1933, as part of a party that included Lynsdey Everard, Lt.-Col. Arthur Borton V.C. and Mr & Mrs Runciman, they flew to Germany for a holiday and were met by Adolf Hitler and Hermann Göring.
  In Taunton he served on various committees and was much involved in local politics. He was President of the Society of Somerset Folk and regularly gave a cup for the 'best fat beast' in the Taunton Christmas Show. The Orangery at Hatch Court served as a trophy room for all Gault's hunting trophies. Today, Hatch Court houses a museum commemorating Gault's military career.
  Retiring to his native Quebec after the Second World War, Gault returned to the 2,200 acre Mont Saint-Hilaire estate he had purchased in 1913 from Colin A. M. Campbell, of Manoir Rouville. He vigilantly protected the property from expropriation by mining interests. Upon his death, he bequeathed it to McGill University to help ensure its preservation.
caption: Hatch Court, the estate Gault purchased from his second wife's aunt; his home from 1922 to 1945
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