Lance Corporal James Hamilton

 

James Hamilton was born on 24 July 1894 at 107 Old Park Road Belfast, the fifth of six children of yarn dresser James Hamilton and his wife Margaret (née Armstrong). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Elimgrove Terrace, Cliftonville Road, Belfast, with his parents and his four surviving siblings, and working as a clerk for the Great Northern Railway.

Hamilton enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 31 October and 9 November 1914 (No.UD/117 – later Corps of Dragoons No.21245). He was mentioned in a report of the squadron's activities in the Belfast News-Letter of 23 June 1915:

INNISKILLING DRAGOONS IN CAMP.
Gymkana at Magilligan.

A successful gymkana in connection with the service squadron of the Inniskilling Dragoons was held on Magilligan Strand, County Derry, on Saturday, before a large number of interested spectators. Captain Hulse and Squadron Sergeant-Major Waldron acted as judges. The first event was a section race (mounted) over two jumps, for which twelve sections entered. The result was:- Lance-Corporal J. Hamilton's section (No. 4 troop), 1; Lance-Corporal R. Kerns's section (No. 2 troop), 2. Time, 3 mins. 48 secs.

On 6 October 1915 Hamilton embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division. On 22 March 1916 the squadron war diary recorded that:

No.117 Lce/Corpl Hamilton detailed to attend Course of Instruction at St. Omar [sic] on Hotchkiss Gun.

In June 1916 the squadron was brought together with B and C Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In September 1917 the regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the infantry. By that time, however, Hamilton was no longer with the regiment. At some point during 1916 or 1917 he had returned to the UK, possibly due to illness or injury.

On 14 December 1918 he was discharged from the army, being 'surplus to military requirements, not having suffered impairment since entry into the service' (paragraph 392 (xxv)(a), King's Regulations).

 

This page last updated 3 March 2023.