William Wallace Hamilton

Memorial: Downend - Christ Church

Regiment: Dorset Regiment

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Private 30188

Parents: William and Margaret Hamilton (nee Harts)

Marital status: Single

Home address: 4 Cassell Road, Staple Hill, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Unknown

Date of birth: 1898

Place of birth: 4 Cassell Road, Staple Hill, Bristol

Date of death: 09/04/1918

Buried/Commemorated at: Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine

Age: 19

Further information:

William Wallace Hamilton was baptised on 23rd October 1898 at St. Mary's, Fishponds. Enlisting in Bristol in October 1917 he served in the 2nd/4th (Territorial) Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. In December 1917 they arrived at the front near Ramleh, where they joined 234 Brigade. On 14th March 1918 the 2nd/4th took over and extended the line near Deir Ballut, holding the position until the end of the month. They captured and held their objectives in the face of fierce counter-attacks. In April near Berukin the 2/4th took Three Bushes Hill and again held it despite savage attacks by the Turks. During this action in which William Hamilton was Killed in Action, the Battalion spent 96 hours in almost continuous marching and fighting, losing some 90 officers and men killed, wounded or captured. The Register of Soldiers Effects shows that he had £3.1s.7d which was sent to father on 22nd September 1918 with a further £6.7s.2d being sent on 22nd November 1918. A War Gratuity of £4.0s.0d was also sent to his father on 25th November 1919.

Williams older brother Henry also died in the war both are commemorated on the Christ Church Downend and the Staple Hill (Page Park) Memorials. And both are also commemorated on the Staple Hill Methodist Church Memorial.

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Register of Soldiers Effects, Soldiers Died In The Great War, UK Censuses, Select Church of England Registers, David Blackmore – Mangotsfield residents Association