Private Thomas James Canterbury Hamilton
Thomas James Canterbury Harrison was born on 5 August 1875 at Kennedies, Armagh, the second last of at least ten children of school teacher John Hamilton and his wife Eliza Mary (née Livingston). On 5 June 1900 he married Ethel Annie Cardwell at Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church, Shankill, Belfast. The couple had two children over the next six years.
At the time of the 1901 Census he was living with his wife and younger brother at 12 Dublin Road, St Laurence Gate, Louth, and working as a linen factory manager. The family lived for a time in Rathdown, Dublin, where Thomas worked as an insurance secretary, before moving to Belfast. By the time of the 1911 Census, Thomas, Ethel and their children were living at 382 Lisburn Road, Belfast, Thomas again working as a linen factory manager.
According to the Larne Times of 30 March 1918, (see below), Hamilton was "formerly of the North Irish Horse". No further details of his service with the regiment have been located. It is probable, however, that he served before the war, either when he was living in Louth, or after moving to Belfast.
Hamilton was awarded an OBE (Civil Division) in the New Year's Honours List of 1 January 1951. By 1953 he was living at 8 Alliance Avenue, Belfast. He died on 11 November that year in the Royal Victoria Hospital and was buried in the Knockbreda Cemetery.
Larne Times, 30 March 1918
Northern Whig and Belfast Post, 12 November 1953