HAMILTON, Alexander James

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Regina - Saskatchewan
Original Unit
46th Battalion - South Saskatchewan
Regimental Number
427303
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
24 years 9 months
Cemetery
Vimy Memorial - Pas de Calais - France
Cenotaph
None
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:   1st Canadian Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Brigade, 13th Battalion - Royal Highlanders of Canada, Canadian Infantry Corps
RESIDENCE:         Regina - Saskatchewan
FATHER:            Mr. Joseph Hamilton - Localsh / Lucknow - Ontario
SISTER:            Mrs. A. J. McLennan - Localsh - Ontario 
Personal:          Height was 5'  7" with a ruddy complexion, gray eyes and brown hair.  Alexander earned his living from farming and was raised in the Presbyterian faith.

Following his enlistment and his training in Canada, Private Hamilton made his way to Halifax in October and embarked from Canada on October 21, 1915 on the SS Lapland and arrived overseas in Liverpool on  November 2, 1915. Upon his arrival in England he immediately went to Camp Aldershot - Hampshire to continue with his training.

On March 15, 1916 he is admitted into hospital with the measles and is released April 26th. On June 16th he travelled overseas into France and joined the 13th Battalion in the field on June 19, 1916.  

During September 24th the artillery of the Canadians and the Germans was active and both used all calibre of guns with the enemy shelling Courcelette where the 13th Battalion was passing through. A number of casualties were taken during this bombardment. During the night of September 24/25 it rained heavily. The weather on September 25th was warm and fine. 

Battalion diaries state that the artillery used all calibre of guns during a bombardment onto the enemy front trenches and support trenches. The enemy immediately replied with a heavy bombardment of their own but this was not very effective.  Brigade diaries state that early on the morning of September 25th the enemy artillery bombarded the front lines of the Battalion with high explosive shrapnel shells and their 5.9" guns. At mid-day the enemy artillery brought down a barrage to the right of Courcelette to Partinpuich onto the communication trench with high explosive and shrapnel shells.  At 4 pm the 13th Battalion reported the enemy was shelling their positions in and around Courcelette.  

From the diaries and the military file of Private Hamilton we can assume with some accuracy that in all liklihood Private Hamilton lost his life from the effects of high explosive shelling and shrapnel shelling by the enemy onto the positions of the 13th Battalion.