HAMILTON, JOHN (1896-1961), soldier and wharf laborer, was born on 24 January
1896 at Orange, New South Wales, son of William Hamilton, butcher, and his wife
Catherine, nee Fox. Nothing is known of his schooling but he described himself
as a butcher when he enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force on
15 September 1914; he had had prior service in the militia. He was posted to
the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, and embarked from Sydney in October. After training
in Egypt his battalion sailed for Gallipoli and took part in the Anzac landing
on 25 April 1915. A month later he was evacuated with influenza and did not resume
duty until 2 June.
At 4 a.m. on 9 August, during the battle of Lone Pine, the Turks launched
a bomb attack followed by a violent general assault with intense rifle and machine-gun
fire. Near Sasse's Sap the 3rd Battalion counter attacked and drove them back
but soon afterwards Turkish soldiers again streamed down the sap. Lieutenant
Owen Howell-Price [q.v.], adjutant of the 3rd Battalion, ordered several men,
including Hamilton, to scramble onto the parapet and fire on the enemy in the
trenches while he confronted those advancing along the sap. Exposed to intense
fire and protected only by a few sandbags, Hamilton lay out in the open for six
hours telling those in the trenches where to throw their bombs while he kept
up constant sniper fire. A dangerous assault was thus halted. For his 'coolness
and daring example' he received the Victoria Cross, the only one awarded to his
unit during the war. The 3rd Battalion was decimated at Lone Pine but, after
reorganization in Egypt, left for France in March 1916 and went into the line
at Armentieres. Hamilton was promoted corporal on 3 May and fought at Pozieres
in July, Mouquet Farm in August and Flers in November. He was promoted sergeant
in May 1917 and that year his battalion served at Bullecourt, Menin Road and
Broodseinde.
On 5 July 1918 Hamilton was posted to No.5 Officer Cadet Battalion at Cambridge,
England; he was commissioned second lieutenant in January 1919 and promoted lieutenant
next April. He rejoined a much-depleted 3rd Battalion in France late that month
and returned to Australia in August. His AIF appointment ended on 12 September.
After demobilization he lived at Tempe, Sydney, and was a wharf labourer for
over thirty years; he also worked as a shipping clerk, storeman and packer. He
was an active member of the Waterside Federation and was Labor nominee for the
position of Sydney branch secretary in 1952. During World War II he served as
a lieutenant with the 16th Garrison Battalion and several training battalions.
In 1942 he went to New Guinea with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, then served with
Australian Labour Employment Companies until 1944 when he transferred to the
Australian Army Labour Service. He was promoted captain in the Australian Military
Forces in October 1944. He returned to Sydney in April 1946.
Hamilton died of cerebro-vascular disease in the Repatriation General Concord,
Sydney, on 27 February 1961 and was buried in Woronora cemetery. He was survived
by his wife and one son.
C. E. W. Bean, The story of Anzacs (Syd, 1924), and The A.I.F, in France,
1916-17(Syd, 1929, 1933); E. Wren, Randwick to Hargicourt …, 3rd Battalion,
AIF (Syd, 1953); L. Wigmore (ed), They dared mightily (Canb, 1963); London Gazette, 15 Oct 1915; Reveille, Dec 1930; SMH, 1, 6, 7 July 1952, 19 May 1956,
28 Feb 1961; recpreds (AWM)
Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition, Hamilton, John
