Harrogate Herald - 29th August 1917

Respecting the death of her husband, Private F Hamilton, Mrs Hamilton, 19 Baden Street, Harrogate, has received sympathetic letters. His Major says : 

"I very much regret to inform you that your husband, 23609, Private F Hamilton died of wounds received on the 9th inst. He was hit near a field ambulance and was taken straight in, receiving every attention possible. Please accept my very deep sympathy with you in your loss. Your husband, although not near the firing line, was engaged on work of vital importance to the success of the operations then taking place". The chaplain writes : "I have received your letter asking for further particulars as to your husband's wounds and last hours. I am sorry I have so little information as he was such a short time in hospital. He passed away at ten minutes past one in the morning of the 10th soon after admission. He was wounded in the right leg, and the shock and loss of blood proved fatal. So many patients were being received that I cannot remember distinctly each case, but my recollection of your husband is that he was unable to leave any message. He was buried in the soldiers' cemetery, ??? 27, plot 17, grave 5. again let me express my deep sympathy. May God comfort you".

Harrogate Herald - 7th November 1917

W H Breare letter

I have had a visit from Mrs Hamilton, wife of F Hamilton, 23609, of the 40th Labour Company, who lives at 19 Baden Street, Harrogate. She was in doubt and trouble. I do not wonder. She had received letters from Hamilton's major and his chaplain saying that he had died from wounds received August 9th, in a hospital on the 10th August. She wrote to York, but they had no information. She likewise wrote to London, where they said her husband was included in the casualty list The strange thing about it is her ring paper was altered, on the 19th September, mark you (and Hamilton is supposed to have died on the 9th August), showing he had been transferred to the Durham Light Infantry. She clings to the hope that there has been a mistake somewhere and that her husband is not dead, but a prisoner in Germany. Before the war he was a postman and had served 13 years in this occupation. Mrs Hamilton has asked me to state her case to you and say that she will be very grateful to anyone who can give her any information whatever about her husband.

Harrogate Herald - 16th January 1918

A Wheatley writes : 

I am very pleased to hear Private L Heap is going on nicely, but I am very sorry indeed to hear about F????[Fireman?] C Bearpark. I have been in his company many times when I was in England, and I also know his parents very well; I am sure they will feel the loss. He was a steady ???? good lad, and through your paper you might be good enough to give them my deepest sympathy. I was sorry to hear about Private F Hamilton. I worked at the Post Office at the same time, so, of course, I knew him well. It is very hard to hear of so many of your old chums going under.

SDGW

Labour Corps

23609 Frederick Hamilton

Born in Harrogate

Enlisted at Harrogate

Died of wounds on 10th August 1917 in France/Flanders

Was formerly 439 West Yorkshite Regiment

CWGC

Private 2289 F Hamilton

5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)

Transferred to (41046) 1st Infantry Labour Company, Lincolnshire Regiment

Re-transferred to (23609) 40th Battalion, Labour Corps

Died on Friday, 10th August 1917. Age 29.

Husband of Margaret L. Hamilton, of 19, Baden St., Harrogate

Cemetery : LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Grave Reference/Panel Number : XVII. J. 5.