William Wilson Hamilton

Rank:

Sergeant

Regimental number:

10539

Unit at enlistment:

13th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Birth country:

Scotland

Birth county:

Renfrewshire

Birth city:

Paisley

Address at enlistment:

171 Terrace Hill Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

171 Terrace Hill Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Shipper

Employer:

Massey-Harris Co.

Religious denominations:

Presbyterian

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX January 31, 1918

Fighting Boys’ Appreciation – Received by G.W.V.A. for Gifts Sent at Christmas Time - Capt. Cornelius, secretary of the G.W.V.A. has received a number of letters in acknowledgment of the cards and parcels sent to the boys at the front at the Christmas season. All express much appreciation of the fact that they were so kindly remembered. Some of the letters received are given below:

Sergt. William Wilson Hamilton, Canadian Corp Signal School, wrote:

“I wish you a happy and peaceful New year, and trust that 1918 will be a victorious one for us, when we shall return to our homes and Brantford.”

BX June 1, 1915

This May Be a Local Man – Corp. Hamilton, Reported Wounded Thought to Belong to This City

Some anxiety is felt locally that the Corp. W.W. Hamilton of the 13th Battalion, who is reported wounded in the casualty lists published at Ottawa yesterday, is Sergeant Signaller William Wilson Hamilton, who left Brantford with the first contingent of Dufferin Rifles. Signaller Hamilton was transferred to the 13th Battalion, becoming associated with the Montreal Canadian Highlanders, at Salisbury Plain, and although nothing official has been heard from Ottawa by his mother, Mrs. Hamilton, who resides on Peel Street, she is naturally greatly concerned over the welfare of her son. In the casualty announcements, Corp. W.W. Hamilton’s next of kin is given as residing in Scotland, and Mrs. Hamilton stated this morning that she has one son and three daughters living in Scotland, and it was her opinion that Sergt. Hamilton might have given Scotland as the place of residence of his next of kin, thinking that his mother, too, would return to her former home.

Sergeant Signaller William Hamilton wrote home about ten days ago, a letter being received in the city on Friday, in which he stated that he was well, but had been through some terrible fighting, and his nerves had gone to pieces. He had served four years with the Dufferin Rifles, attaining through his own efforts, the rank of signalling sergeant at the time of his enlistment. By trade he was employed as a shipper at the Massey-Harris plant, and is 21 years of age.

BX December 24, 1947

The death of William Wilson Hamilton, Goodrich, Mich., occurred at the Brantford General Hospital Tuesday morning. He was 53 years of age. Mr. Hamilton was born in Paisley, Scotland, and was a son of the late Robert Hamilton and the former Agnes Black. For 23 years he held an executive position with the Buick Division of General Motors Corporation at Flint, Mich., resigning two years ago to assume the duties of field supervisor of Confidential Reports, Incorporated. Mr. Hamilton had a distinguished war record. He was a member of the Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles and during the First World War he enlisted as a signal sergeant in the 4th Battalion. At Valcartier he was transferred to the Royal Highlanders of Canada and saw active service with them overseas. On his return, he spent two years as a member of the noted Dumbells Company. Moving to Flint in 1923, he took an active part in post war veterans affairs, being a past commander of Flint Post No. 46, Canadian Legion, B.E.S.L., and a past zone commander of the Great Lakes Command. He was the recipient of a citation from the late President Roosevelt for outstanding voluntary work during the Second World War. In religion he was a Presbyterian. He is survived by his widow, formerly Ethel L. Crabbe, a former resident of Brantford; three brothers, James B. Hamilton, Windsor, Robert Hamilton, city, and Adam Hamilton, Paisley, Scotland, and four sisters, Mrs. Robert Carter (Betty), Brantford, and Mesdames Agnes Pickens, Jessie McKechnie, and Ruby Sellers all of Paisley, Scotland. Mr. Hamilton is resting at the McCleister Funeral Home where the service will be held Saturday afternoon. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

BX December 27, 1947

William W. Hamilton

Funeral services for William Wilson Hamilton, Goodrich, Mich., and formerly well known here in military and other circles, were held at the McCleister Funeral Home and in Mount Hope Cemetery Saturday afternoon. Friends and relatives from the city and many outside points, including Chicago, Ill., Flint and Detroit, Mich., Windsor and other places, were in attendance. Representatives from the local branch of the Canadian Legion, the 4th Battalion, the Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles and other military organizations were also present. Alex McWhirter officially represented Flint Post No. 46, Canadian Legion, B.E.S.L. Beautiful floral tributes were in profusion, Rev. G. Deane Johnston of Central Presbyterian Church was in charge of the funeral service assisted by Rev. E.G. Riddolls of Sydenham Street United Church. Mrs. Netta Corman was the soloist, rendering “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” The honorary pallbearers all members of the local branch of the Legion, were Comrades E.R. Edwards, D. Monkman, H. Kneller, W. Thompson, J. Lune and Don MacKellar. The active pallbearers were Joseph Wallace, James Emmett, Charles Holmes, William Cooke, Donald MacKinnon and George McWhirter. The bugler was William Bessant.