Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Ross Alexander Peden Hamilton came into the world in 1894 in Marrickville, a suburb of Sydney. Growing up in a middle-class family Hamilton attended Petersham Superior Primary School for 3 years, Sydney Technical Day School for 1.5 years, and Sydney Technical College for Electrical Engineering and successfully earned an engineering night degree from Sydney Technical High School in August 1914, but less than a month later, the First World War broke out, drastically altering the young Australian's intentions. Eager to take up arms against the Central Powers, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in May 1915.

Only one month later, Hamilton was deployed to the European front lines, where he would serve on some of the bloodiest fronts in the conflict. He made his combat debut in the tragic Gallipoli Campaign, where the ANZAC forces were badly outclassed in their attempts to take control of the Dardanelles Strait. Hamilton and his battalion members suffered months of arduous trench warfare, living in claustrophobic, filthy conditions and suffering huge casualties as they faced the unrelenting Turkish onslaught. In August 1915 at Gallipoli he was promoted to Lieutenant.

In early 1916 Hamilton was hospitalised with influenza in Tel el Kebir and sent to Australian base once he recovered. He was then sent to the Western Front disembarking at Marseilles 23rd March 1916.

Serving as a machine gun officer his role was both dangerous and essential. For this position, Hamilton earned one of the highest military honours bestowed by the British Empire, the Military Cross, awarded to him for his bravery and ability under fire during the Battle of Harbour Hill in February 1916. 

Hamilton displayed strength and determination that would later define his time in his battalion. Hamilton was wounded throughout the battle, yet he refused to be taken to safety and instead commanded his men with unshakable determination. Throughout the war, Hamilton's brave deeds continued. Participating in the October 1917 Battle of Poelcapelle, he showed his usual courage and tenacity in the face of the German onslaught and was promoted to Captain. In April 1918 he was wounded in action and after a few months of recovery returned to the fight. In 1918's pivotal "Last Hundred Days" offensive, Hamilton's regiment was instrumental in the Allied advance that finally resulted in the conclusion of the war. 

Hamilton passed away in 1969 at the age of 75. 

References

"Ross Alexander Peden Hamilton," Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10448489 
"Gallipoli Campaign," Britannica https://www.britannica.com/event/Gallipoli-Campaign. 
"Battle of Poelcapelle," Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/poelcapelle. 
"The Last Hundred Days," Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/last-hundred-days. 
"ANZAC Spirit," Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/anzac. 

Bibliography

https://www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/185911752:60528?tid=&pid=&queryId=85c0e845-3365-4299-b932-d57267dd4772&_phsrc=Ysy3&_phstart=successSource, ancestry.com: Gave information on family members, birth and death date.
https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=180747 AIF Project: Gave information on many parts of Ross Alexander Peden Hamilton's life including his religion, occupation, age of embarkment, rank on enlistment, enlistment date, battalion, and address.
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/123269 VWM: Gave information on where he was born, places he was schooled, enlistment date, details on service history, information about his battalion, and battles he was at.
Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive