HAMILTON, Thomas Reginald
| Service Number: | 28961 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 August 1916, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 11th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia, 27 March 1892 |
| Home Town: | Auburn, Auburn, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Wentworthville Primary School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Cleaner, Locomotive Fireman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 25 September 1917, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Menin Road South Military Cemetery Plot 2, Row G, Grave 1 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Aug 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 28961, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 28961, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Oct 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 28961, Medium Trench Mortar Batteries, HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 25 Sep 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 28961, 11th Field Artillery Brigade , Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 28961 awm_unit: 11th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1917-09-25 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Thomas Reginald HAMILTON (Service Number 28961) was born at Wentworthville about March 1892.
He worked in the Locomotive Branch as a Cleaner, but was an Acting Fireman at Clyde at the time of his enlistment.
At the time of his enlistment on 23rd August 1916 he was married and gave his wife Olga Mary, then living in Harris Park, as his next of kin.
He was allotted to the Trench Mortar Battery at Menangle and left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Borda’ on 17th October 1916, reaching Plymouth on 9th January 1917.
He was killed in action the next day (25th September 1917).
Gunner F.W. Chapman reported: ‘I believe that owing to heavy fire he had to vacate his position and left his kit behind, and during a lull he went back to fetch it, and whilst doing so he was caught by a shell and killed instantly’'.
John Hamilton reported ‘They found his body on the following morning and buried him in the Cemetery near Hell Fire Corner Hospital.
He was buried in the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.
Submitted 22 August 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Margaret and the late John HAMILTON, Hassal Street, Westmead, NSW
Husband of Olga HAMILTON, Ada Street, Harris Park - later - Mona Street, Auburn, NSW
Mrs. T. R. Hamilton, of Ada-street, Harris Park, has received information through official sources that her husband, Gunner Thomas Reginald Hamilton, was killed in action on 25th September last in France. It had just previously been reported that he was suffering from gas poisoning. He enlisted for active service in September, 1916, and sailed on the 17th October, 1916. Prior to his enlisting he resided in Mona-street, Auburn, and was employed as acting fireman at the Clyde Loco Sheds. Gunner Hamilton was the youngest son of Mr. J. Hamilton, of Westmead.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Thomas Reginald HAMILTON (Service Number 28961) was born at Wentworthville about March 1892.
He worked in the Locomotive Branch as a Cleaner, but was an Acting Fireman at Clyde at the time of his enlistment.
At the time of his enlistment on 23rd August 1916 he was married and gave his wife Olga Mary, then living in Harris Park, as his next of kin.
He was allotted to the Trench Mortar Battery at Menangle and left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Borda’ on 17th October 1916, reaching Plymouth on 9th January 1917. He had a period of hospitalisation duing February before proceeding overseas to France in April. He was transferred to the 11th Field Artillery Brigade in June and in August was gassed. It took several transfers to hospitals and nearly two months rehabilitation before he was again fit. He re-joined his unit in Belgium on 24th September and was killed in action the next day (25th September 1917).
Gunner F.W. Chapman reported: ‘I believe that owing to heavy fire he had to vacate his position and left his kit behind, and during a lull he went back to fetch it, and whilst doing so he was caught by a shell and killed instantly’'.
John Hamilton reported ‘They found his body on the following morning and buried him in the Cemetery near Hell Fire Corner Hospital.
He was buried in the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.
- based on notes for the Great SydneyCentral Station Honour Board
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