9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Died:
01/08/1916 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
22
Summary
John Stanley Hamilton was born Ballymena about 1891. John Hamilton was raised by his aunt, Mrs Ellen Whitelock who lived in Caledon, County Tyrone. John Hamilton was a member of Caledon and District Branch of the Ulster Volunteers. John Hamilton enlisted at Finner Camp, Donegal. Private John Stanley Hamilton was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was wounded in France. Private John S Hamilton died of wounds on the 1st August 1916.
Further Information
John Stanley Hamilton was born Ballymena about 1891.
John Hamilton was raised by his aunt, Mrs Ellen Whitelock who lived in Caledon, County Tyrone.
The 1911 census lists John Stanley as age 20, living at house 1 in Lairakean, Caledon, Tyrone. He was a farm labourer for the Brown family.
John Hamilton was a member of Caledon and District Branch of the Ulster Volunteers.
John Hamilton enlisted at Finner Camp, Donegal.
Private Hamilton arrived in France with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 6th October 1915.
Private John Stanley Hamilton was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was wounded in France.
Private John S Hamilton died of wounds on the 1st August 1916.
John Hamilton did not leave a will, so the documentation leading to his aunt becoming the beneficiary follows:
Lodge, Caledon, County Tyrone 7th September 1917: Letter from Sergeant A Irwin
'Sir, In reply to your letter, form enclosed and attached. I beg to inform you. On the 3rd June 1915, I was on leave from my battalion prior to going to France. I met Private Hamilton, 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers, and a man call Henry Mehaffy outside the Ulster Volunteer Drill Hall, Caledon, Tyrone. We had some conversation together. (I may here state I was Drill instructor to Caledon and District Branch of the Ulster Volunteers and Private Hamilton was also a member. I rejoined my old regiment “the Welsh” on Kitchener's appeal for old N.C.O.'s as instructors for the new army. I was also instrumental in recruiting Hamilton and others to join the army.) As I was on the eve of returning off leave, I personally asked Private Hamilton if he had fixed things up, as he might be in France shortly after me. He replied 'I have given an allotment to Auntie Whitelock (Mrs E Whitelock) and if anything should happen and I go under, all I have or possess will be hers as she has been a good mother to me' and the only mother he ever knew, meaning that she reared him. I hope this statement is clear. I never saw Private Hamilton again and I have been discharged since July 1 as unfit for further war service (disablement, etc). A Irwin'
'NB I rejoined the service with my rank of Sergeant and am discharges as Sergeant. I enclosed certificate from Mr H Mehaffy duly endorsed by Magistrate. Thomas H Shannon Justice of Peace, County Tyrone.'
Castle Street Caledon 5th September 1917: Letter from Henry Mehaffy
'I, Henry Mehaffy, hereby certify that I was present on 3rd June 1915 when the late Private J S Hamilton, 9th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Said to Sergeant A Irwin, 9th Welsh Regiment, ' I have made an allotment to Aunty Whitelock and should I go under, anything I possess will go to her as she has been a mother to me all my life. Henry Mehaffy, Castle Street Caledon.' Thomas H Shannon, Justice of the Peace, Co Tyrone, Ireland.
Annacramp, Caledon, Co Tyrone, Ireland. 1st September 1917. Letter from Thomas H Shannon J.P.,
'I, Thomas H Shannon J.P., have read the statement that Sergeant Irwin has made as to Private Hamilton's effects and as I have known the said Mrs Whitelock and also the late Private Hamilton, I can certify that the statement Sergeant Irwin and Henry Mehaffy has made would be correct.'
Private John S Hamilton is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery in France.
Private John Stanley Hamilton is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
The CWGC records Private John Hamilton as the nephew of Mrs Ellen Whitelock of Lake View Cottage, Caledon, Co. Tyrone.
