Alexander Hamilton likeness

Alexander Hamilton cap badgePrivate Alexander Hamilton

1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Service No: 6729

Alexander Hamilton grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of Richard Hamilton (1864 - 14/08/1943) and Mary Knox Hamilton (1867 - 16/02/1940) of 11 Hamilton St, Larkhall. Husband of Mary McDermid Hamilton (28/01/1888 - 18/09/1943) of 161 Sunnyside Rd, Coatbridge. Father of 4 children, Richard Hamilton born 23/10/1908, Martin McDermid Hamilton born 03/02/1910, Walter Miller Hamilton born 07/07/1912 and Alexander Hamilton born 10/08/1914 (his father enlisted when he was born and died 1 month later). From the 1901 Census - Address - 152 Sunnyside Rd, Coatbridge - Richard Hamilton aged 35, Mary Hamilton aged 33, Alexander Hamilton aged 15, Mary Hamilton aged 9, Richard Hamilton aged 6, Samuel Hamilton aged 4, William Hamilton aged 1. Alexander's Pension was awarded to his wife Mary on the 29/05/1915. The 4 children are also listed. Mary remarried David McOwat on the 28/08/1917.

Born / Resided

Baillieston / 161 Sunnyside Rd, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 14/09/1914 at the Battle of the Aisne

Enlisted

Glasgow /08/1914

Employed

Rivet Worker in Lochrin Iron Works / Reservist.

Age

29 / DOB - 26/07/1885

Buried / Remembered

Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery (VIII. F. 13), Aisne, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

II Corps passed through this neighbourhood on the Retreat from Mons in August, 1914, and it was lost in the early days of the Fifth Army retreat in March, 1918. The Cemetery was made in 1920-26 by the concentration of graves from the battlefields and from other burial grounds. There are over 2,000, 1914-18 and a small number of 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, almost two-thirds from the 1914-18 War are unidentified and special memorials are erected to two soldiers from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried here. Other special memorials record the names of 32 United Kingdom soldiers, buried by the enemy, whose graves could not be found. In Plots III, IV and V are many graves, identified collectively but not individually, which are marked by headstones superscribed: "Buried near this spot".

Additional Information

Alexander and the Battalion landed at Le Havre as Army Troops on the 14/08/1914. On the 05/09/1914 they joined the 1st Brigade,1st Division. The Battle of the Aisne, 12th - 15th September 1914 : The advance northwards from the Marne is halted as the Germans dig in along the heights above the River Aisne. British attacks are repelled and both sides dig in: for the British, the Aisne was the root of trench warfare. Extracts from the personal diary of Captain C. J. Paterson of the 1st South Wales Borderers (3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps) : Monday 14/09/1914 - "As there is only one road by which the whole 1st Division can push on, it takes some time and we get orders not to move to 9am. At about 8 it is discovered that the bridges over the River Aisne have been so damaged that we cannot even move at 9, and as a matter of fact we move at 2pm. When we do move it is not for very long. We crossed the river with shells dropping around us. The Germans have destroyed most of the bridges and are shelling or trying to shell the ones they have left, hoping to catch us on them. However, we cross and line a ridge to the north of Bourg. The cavalry pushes out and we billet in Bourg. Find a very nice house in which a good dinner and to bed on the floor with Homfray. I refused to spend another night sitting up and say so plainly. Another mail arrives with several letters for me. Very nice. Orders to move at 5am2. THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1914 WAS LOST ON THE AISNE. SEE PHOTOS x 18 FOR A REPORT ON THE ACTIONS OF THE 1st BATTALION CAMERON HIGHLANDERS ON THE 14/09/1914 AND THE REST OF SEPTEMBER 1914. Alexander was a Reservist and was Killed in Action exactly 1 month after arriving in France as the Allies tried to stop the German advance to Paris. Alexander's brother Private Richard Hamilton of the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry (14888) was Killed in Action on the 01/07/1916 on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme aged 21 and is remembered on the Larkhall and Airdrie War Memorials. For information on Richard see photos. Alexander was reburied in Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Alexander's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2 (brother Robert mentioned), his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his Reburial Form, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Alexander's Pension Records x 2, Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery and the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge. Alexander's grave inscription reads "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN". Also see photos for younger brother Richard, his Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, Thiepval Memorial, Richard's name on the Thiepval Memorial, Airdrie War Memorial, Richard's name on the Airdrie War Memorial, Larkhall War Memorial, Richard's name on the Larkhall War Memorial, Alexander and Robert remembered at the Family Plot in Larkhall Cemetery, Richard's Pension Records x 5 and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. The 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow) H.L.I. had the same Record of War Service 1914 - 1918 as the 17th (Service) Battalion (3rd Glasgow) H.L.I. This can be viewed Here

Photos
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