Private Vincent Joseph Hamill
Vincent Joseph Robert Hamill was born on 7 June 1900 in Chapel Lane, Dundalk, County Louth, the seventh of eight children of fowl merchant (later sub-sanitary officer) John Hamill and his English-born wife Edith Mary (née Myler). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at 9 Wellington Place, Dundalk, with his parents and six of his siblings. His father died the following year and soon after the family moved to Belfast, living at 105 Ormeau Road.
Hamill enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 19 April 1916 (No.2152). He gave his age as 19 years 304 days, though he was not yet sixteen, and his occupation as mechanic. Soon after, however, his mother wrote to the regiment enclosing a copy of his birth certificate and seeking his discharge.
On 17 May 1916 Hamill was discharged, 'having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment, soldier under 17 years of age at date of application for discharge' (paragraph 392(vi)(a), King's Regulations). His military character was recorded as good.
Hamill married Mary Kelly in Belfast on 4 January 1928. By 1961 they were living at 3 Erinvale Gardens, Finaghy, County Antrim, Vincent's occupation recorded as 'motor representative'. He died on 16 August that year in the Belfast City Hospital and was buried in St Patrick's Cemetery, Dundalk.
Belfast Telegraph, 17 August 1961