HAMILTON, John Munro
| Service Number: | 4281 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4281, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4281, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Aubrey Bairstow
John Monro Hamilton was born at Wanganui New Zealand and trained at a telegraphist.
John M. Hamilton, telegraphist of Napier, was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia for risking his life in assisting Percy Emerson, a cadet, aged 21 who was attempting to rescue a nurse, Annie Hickey, who drowned at the beach at Napier on 16 November 1897.
They succeeded in bringing her body to shore but were too late to save her life. Percy Emerson was awarded the RHSA Silver Medal. The certificate awarded to John Hamilton, a member of the Wellington telegraphic staff, was presented to him by the Mayor at a meeting of the Wellington City Council on the evening of 6 October 1898.
He enlisted at age 38 stating that he was a telegraphist and no doubt this trade allowed someone of his age to enlist. John was a married man living in Mossman. He enlisted on 20 September 1915 at Casula, NSW and stated that he had 2 years prior service with the Field Battery at Napier, NZ.
He embarked with 18th Battalion on 8 March 1916 and was posted to the School of Instruction on 1 May 1916. John was posted to 18th Bn on 2 October 1916 and served with 2nd Divisional Signals Company both in England and Western Europe. He was returned to Australia on 4 July 1919 and was discharged at Sydney on 12 October 1919.
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