HAMILTON, James Alfred
| Service Number: | 436 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Queensland, Australia, 31 January 1880 |
| Home Town: | Salisbury, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Durban, Inanda, Natal, South Africa, 27 December 1951, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 436, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 436, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 436, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Served twice in the South African (Boer) war. First service was as a Private S.N. 436, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Second service was as a Private S.N. 287, 7th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse.
When James Alfred Hamilton enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his mother Mrs. L. A. Hamilton, Salisbury, South Coast Line, Qld. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 102, it is noted he directed part of his pay to his brother Mr. W. Hamilton, Port Office, Brisbane.
He returned to Brisbane and was discharged from the 5th QIB on 5 May 1902. The very next day, 6 May 1902, he enlisted again with the 7th BACH and noted on his attestation form that he; was born at Dunwich, Brisbane and was 22 years old; was single and a bushmen; noted his N.O.K. as his mother Mrs. Hamilton, Salisbury; and had previously served with the 5th QIB. It is unclear whether he returned to Australia with the 7th BACH or he was discharged in South Africa where he would live until he passed.
James Alfred Hamilton was born on 31 Jan 1880 at Dunwich, Qld, a son to James Andrew Hamilton and Lucy Ann Hamilton (nee Bell). An online genealogy biography for him on WikiTree notes that he married Agnes Eliza Branch on 24 Feb 1934 at Durban, Natal, South Africa. He passed at Durban in 1951.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 502 and 537; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 102; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 2nd service; WikiTree online genealogy biography).