HAMILTON, James Kenneth Wyvenleigh
| Service Number: | 26456 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Nowra, New South Wales, Australia, 3 March 1897 |
| Home Town: | Mosman, Municipality of Mosman, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Waverley, New South Wales, Australia, 5 May 1979, aged 82 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Commercial Banking Company of Sydney WW1 Honour Roll, Mosman St. Clements Anglican Church Great War Roll of Honour, Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 26456, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1916: | Involvement Driver, 26456, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Mashobra embarkation_ship_number: A47 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Sep 1916: | Embarked Driver, 26456, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, HMAT Mashobra, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
James Kenneth Wyvenleigh Hamilton was born on 3 March 1897 in Nowra, New South Wales, to Walter Wyvern Leigh Hamilton (father) and Edith Emily Beadmore (mother). His early years were marked by academic excellence at Sydney Technical High School, where he ranked 11th in his cohort overall in 1912, as well as coming first for Algebra and Geometry. He received the Junior Technical High School scholarship in 1911. Hamilton’s family, including his brothers Geoffrey George Gladstone Hamilton and William Morton Hamilton, lived at 50 Shadforth Street, Mosman, New South Wales. Before enlisting in the military, he worked as a bank clerk at the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney (now National Australia Bank) before enlisting in the AIF.
Hamilton’s military journey began when he enlisted on 1 May 1916 at the age of 21 years and 2 months at the Victoria Barracks. Standing at a height of 5’10 ¾” (179 cm), he was initially assigned to the 5th Field Artillery Brigade upon completion of his basic training. He embarked from Sydney on 14th September 1916 aboard HMAT A47 'Mashobra' and arrived in Plymouth, England, on 2nd November 1916.
After arriving in England, he was transferred to France aboard an unknown ship. With the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, Hamilton fought in both the Arras Offensive and the Third Battle of Ypres before being transferred to the 2nd Division Ammunition Column. Hamilton then participated in several significant battles, including, The Battle of the Avre, which was a part of the Battle for the Somme contributing to the war effort with dedication. Despite the harsh conditions and the constant threat of injury, he was not injured in battle but did fall ill with scabies 8 January 1918. Hamilton returned to Australia on 4th June 1919 aboard the 'Mahia', concluding his wartime service.
After returning from the war, Hamilton resumed his civilian life and continued contributing to his community. In 1943, he married Clarice Iona Smith, with whom he would remain married for the rest of his life, until her death in 1956. All his family members predeceased him: his Father in 1929, mother in 1939, his first brother Geoffrey, in 1968, and then his second brother, William, in 1971. He continued to live in Waverley, New South Wales, where he eventually passed away on 5th May 1979 at the age of 82. His legacy is remembered through various contributions and records, including the Sydney Technical High School World War 1 Honour Roll, and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney WW1 Honour Roll.
Bibliography
Unknown, THS 1912 class 1a
Unknown, Virtual War Memorial Australia, HAMILTON, James Kenneth Wyvenleigh.
Unknown, Virtual War Memorial Australia, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column.
Unknown, Ancestry DNA, HAMILTON, James Kenneth Wyvennleigh
Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive.
Unknown, National Archives of Australia, HAMILTON
James Kenneth Wyvernleigh.
Iskander Chau - Sydney Technical High School 2024
Lest we forget