Feb 5, 1875

Born in Richmond, Ontario to William Henry and Ann Elizabeth (nee Good) Hamilton

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario with his brother, Robert Lorne Hamilton 

Ø      Number 59417 (temporary number 766)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs. WHE Hamilton, wife, 820 Somerset St., Ottawa, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Trainman with the CNR

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion not stated

Ø      Assigned to “G” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “D” Company

o       He was later transferred to the Transport Section 

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

Feb 25, 1915

Forfeited 4 days pay for an unspecified offence

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Aug 29, 1915

Declared to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Aug 30, 1915

Reported for duty and forfeited 2 days pay

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Apr 22, 1916

While the battalion was in the front line trenches near Scottish Wood, Private Hamilton received shrapnel wounds to his back during an enemy artillery barrage where he was buried by the explosion of a nearby shell.  He was evacuated to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid.  He was then transferred to the No. 10 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment.  Because of the seriousness of the wounds, he was transferred via the No. 15 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 13 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne later the same day.

May 3, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne to recover from his wounds

Jun 10, 1916

Discharged from hospital to Base Details in Boulogne for light duties

Jun 18, 1916

Transferred to the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in Havre and posted to “A” Company for those recovering from wounds and illness

Jul 17, 1916

Admitted to the No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined).  This was later changed to read Influenza

Jul 30, 1916

Discharged to the convalescent depot with light duties to continue his recovery

Aug 9, 1916

Discharged from the convalescent depot and rejoined the CBD in Havre and given the medical classification TB (Temporary Base) meaning that he was temporarily unfit for front line duties

Aug 16, 1916

His classification was changed to PB (Permanent Base) meaning that he was declared to be permanently unfit for front line duty and attached to the Canadian Corps Headquarters for duty and assigned for duty with the Canadian Corps Composite Company

Sep 15, 1916

His brother, Robert, was killed during the 21^st Battalion’s advance on a sugar refinery at Courcelette

Dec 3, 1916

Granted 10 days leave

Dec 19, 1916

His medical classification was removed and he rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Brigade Reserve in the town of Calonne

Dec 21, 1916

Attached to the 2^nd Canadian Division Headquarters for duty

Dec 23, 1916

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea) 

Ceased to be attached to the division headquarters on being admitted to hospital

Transferred to the No. 6 CCS the same day

Jan 1, 1917

Transferred via the No. 31 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 39 General Hospital in Havre

Mar 18, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the CBD in Havre for duty 

Forfeited his Field Allowance and 50¢ per day for his 76 day stay in hospital

Mar 24, 1917

Readmitted to the No. 39 General Hospital with a relapse of the VDG symptoms

Jun 23, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples 

Forfeited his Field Allowance and 50¢ per day for his 91 day stay in hospital

Jul 18, 1917

Left the CIBD and joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin

Jan 10, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Feb 2, 1918

Rejoined the battalion from leave

Feb 4, 1918

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA with a diagnosis that reads Scabies and transferred the same day to No. 4 CFA

Feb 24, 1918

Discharged to duty from the CFA

Mar 19, 1918

Returned to duty with the 4^th Brigade Headquarters

Aug 20, 1918

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Beauvois

Aug 29, 1918

Admitted to the No. 12 Field Ambulance with a shrapnel wound to his chin and lower lip and transferred to the No. 42 CCS for treatment

Sep 2, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Ville de Liege

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Bath War Hospital, Bath, south-east of Bristol 

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Sep 14, 1918

Transferred to the military convalescent hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Oct 4, 1918

Discharged from hospital and granted sick leave until October 16, 1918.  Following his leave he was to report to the 1^st CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) in Seaford

Nov 27, 1918

A medical board at the 1^st CCD at Witley states that he is anemic and lacks energy and only fit for light duties

Dec 16, 1918

On Command to Kinmel Park, Rhyl pending return to Canada

Dec 21, 1918

Embarked the SS Carmania in Liverpool

Dec 30, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

Dec 31, 1918

Granted leave with subsistence until January 14, 1919

Jan 21, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Ottawa 

Ø      Rank on discharge Private

Ø      War Service Badge Class “A” issued 

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 370 Gilmore St., Ottawa, Ontario

May 27, 1939

Died in Westboro, Ontario of Pyonephrosis (kidney disease) that was determined to have been caused by his wartime service and buried in the Merivale, Ontario Cemetery.  The family headstone is on the right

Following his death, a Memorial Cross was sent to his widow, Mrs. Anna A. Hamilton, 47 Richmond Road, Westboro, Ontario