Pte 16238 Samuel Hamilton

• Age: 26
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 22nd October 1916
• Commemorated at: Etaples Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: VIII.C.3A

Samuel was born in 1890 in Kirkdale, Liverpool, the son of Samuel Hamilton and Phoebe Ann (née Marsden) who were married on the 25th March 1875 at St Mary's Church, Kirkdale. His father was born in Ireland and his mother in Liverpool. 

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 35 St Johns Road, Kirkdale. Father Samuel is aged 42, a labourer in an engine shop, born in Co.Antrim, mother Phoebe A. is aged 36, children born Kirkdale and at school: Annie 14, William 13, James 9, and Minnie 7. Samuel is aged 9 months.

The 1901 Census shows the family have moved to 131 Beatrice St, Bootle. Father Samuel is aged 51, a general labourer, born in Co.Antrim, mother Sarah(?) is aged 46, now born Birmingham?, children Anne 24, a shop worker, Robert 23, a painter, Marian(Miriam) 17, and Samuel aged 10.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family are living at 111 Bedford Road, Bootle.  Father Samuel is aged 60, an upholsterers labourer, born in Portglenone, mother Phoebe is aged 55(married 34 years, 9 children, only 4 still alive), children Marion 26, and Samuel aged 26, a freight clerk. 

His service records show that he enlisted 01st September 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16238. He gave his age as 24 years and 60 days, occupation clerk. He was described as being 5’11” tall, weighed 135lbs with a 37” chest. He had a sallow complexion with brown hair and eyes and his religion was stated as Church of England. His next of kin was father Samuel, 111 Bedford Rd.

From the 23rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07th November 1915. 

Service record:-

11.11.15 - Embarked for France.

05.01.16 - To F.A. with bad feet.

08.01.16 - Resumed duty.

08.03.16 - To F.A. with varicocele(testicle inflammation).

11.03.16 - Resumed duty.

17.03.16 - Attached to Town Major, Corbie. [Each town in an area covered by a Corps Headquarters was allocated a Town Major. He was provided with orders to issue to any unit occupying the town or village for which he was responsible. Billets there would not be occupied or vacated without information being given to him. Source: The Long, Long Trail]

01.04.16 - Resumed duty.

22.05.16 - To F.A.

23.05.16 - Resumed duty.

24.05.16 - To 97 F.A., admitted to 21 CCS with varicocele.

09.08.16 - Attached to 11th Bgde. H.Q.

17.09.16 - Resumed duty.

12.10.16 - Wounded in action.

13.10.16 - Shot wound to abdomen, admitted to 15 C.M.D.S.(dressing station) and 38 C.C.S.

15.10.16 - Gun shot wounds to arm, leg and abdomen, admitted to 26 Gen.Hospital.

22.10.16 - Died of Wounds, 26 G.H. at Etaples.

18th Battn. War Diary

FLERS SUPPORT

12.10.16 - Battn. moved to FLERS SUPPORT (?, Lewis guns and No.1 Coy) - GROVE ALLEY (Nos. 2, 3 and 4 Coys).

13.10.16 - Moved at 10.30p.m. to trenches and relieved 2nd Bedfordshire Regt. - On the way up the enemy put a considerable amount of gas shells over, which caused no serious casualties owing to the men at once putting on their gas helmets. 

Samuel died of wounds at Etaples on 22nd October 1916, aged 26.

He now rests at Etaples Military Cemetery, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"WITH CHRIST"

During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.

The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915. 35 of these burials are unidentified. It is the largest CWGC cemetery in France, and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Samuel's death was reported in the Bootle Times on 10th November 1916, under the header:

"BEDFORD "OLD BOY."

PRIVATE S. HAMILTON DIES OF WOUNDS IN FRANCE.

The news of the death of Private Samuel Hamilton, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, has caused sorrow in the large circle of friends in Bootle who held him in highest esteem.

He was educated at the Bedford Road Council School, and on leaving entered the firm of Messrs. McIver and Co., now incorporated with Messrs. Lever Bros., Ltd. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in Lord Derby's Liverpool Pals, and after training at Hooton, Knowsley, Grantham, and Aldershot, went across to France twelve months ago. In a recent action on the Somme, he was severely wounded in both legs, and the left arm by machine gun fire. He died a few days afterwards in a British hospital in France.

Associated from early childhood with Queen's Road Primitive Methodist Church, he became one of its most active workers. For eight years he held the important office of Sunday School Secretary. As a regular, conscientious unassuming worker in the school, as a popular member of the Church Choir, and an earnest official in the Band of Hope, he is greatly missed in the Methodist community, where during his short but noble career he endeared himself to all who knew him.

The Rev. Benjamin Fell, minister of the church, preached a most impressive sermon in his memory. Taking his text from Isaiah, 43, 2, "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, " he spoke tender words of comfort and sympathy to the mourners, and paid a glowing tribute to the memory and work of the fallen. He has made the supreme sacrifice by giving himself for the Commonwealth, and with thousands of our dearest and best, will receive each for his memory, praise that will never die, and with it the grandest of all sepulchres a home in the minds of men; for the whole earth is the sepulchre of such heroes, and their story is graven not only in stone but lives on without visible symbol wove into the stuff of other men's lives. He has gone to receive the Crown incorruptible.

According to telegrammes to Fulwood Barracks, Samuel was initially reported dangerously ill on the 16th Oct, and later on the 22nd Oct that he had died of wounds at 8.50pm at 26 G.H., Etaples. He was aged 26.

An In Memoriam notice was placed in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 30 July 1917:

In Memoriam.

HAMILTON - In loving 27th Birthday remembrance of Private S. Hamilton, 2nd Liverpool Pals, youngest son of Mr and Mrs S. Hamilton, who died of wounds received in action Oct. 22, 1916. 

I will hear his voice in the Lambs new song,

His steps in the courts of gold, 

And the same sweet smile on his glorified face,

Will speak of my boy of old. 

Ever remembered by Father, Mother, and Sister, 111 Bedford Road, Bootle. 

His next of kin stated on 04th May 1919 were his mother, his brother William and sister Annie Jones. His father had died in 1918.

His father died, aged 70, on the 11th October 1918.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Monday 14 October 1918:

HAMILTON – Oct 11, after a short illness, Samuel the beloved husband of Phoebe A. Hamilton of 111 Bedford Road, Bootle. (Gone to the Home-land.)

His next of kin stated on 04th May 1919 were his mother, his brother William and sister Annie Jones.

His mother died aged 78 in the 1933.

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Wednesday 14 February 1934:

HAMILTON – In loving memory of Grandma, who passed away February 14, 1933. (Only sleeping.) - Sadly missed by all at 111 Bedford Road, Bootle. 

Samuel is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bedford Road School 

Bootle Civic

Port Sunlight Civic Memorial and Lever Brothers Employees.

We currently have no further information on Samuel Hamilton. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.