Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: James (Jim) Hamilton
Ancestor's date of birth: 14/05/1875
Ancestor's date of death: 19/09/1943
Cause of Death: Unknown
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Third son of Robert and Ellen Hamilton. Jim helped with his parents' farming properties in the Walcha, Maitland area and the Darling Downs in Queensland. His father was also Mayor of Walcha for a number of years. Jim left home and it is not known what other occupations he may have had before and after his periods of military service. Difficult to pick which James Hamilton he is on the Boer War lists of Australian veterans. A photograph of a James Hamilton published in a 1900 issue of The Queenslander newspaper looks like him. We have a photo of Jim taken during his service with South African Forces.
Service Number: 151
Colony or State of enlistment: QLD Place of Enlistment: Unknown
Unit: 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 01/01/1899
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Not known
Murray Page: 470
Contingent: Third Queensland
Ship: Duke of Portland, Date of Sailing: 03/03/1900
Memorial details: Detail not provided
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Rhodesia and Transvaal Clasps; British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Adventurous and independent
Reasons to go and fight: Appears to have been suited to a military career.
Details of service in war: April 1900 - April 1901 in Rhodesia, west Transvaal including relief of Mafeking (16-17 May 1900), defeat at Koster River (22 July 1900) and defence of Elands River Post (4-16 August 1900), and in northern Transvaal including battle of Rhenoster Kop (29 November 1900), and advance on Pietersburg.
Service and life after the Boer War: Jim didn't return to Australia immediately after the Boer War. His obituary in the Walcha News dated 8 October 1943 states that he joined the South African Forces and fought in the Zululand Rebellion, the Dutch Rebellion 1906 and against Germany in South-West Africa in 1914-1915. At the conclusion of this campaign he again enlisted with the South African Forces and fought against Germany in France. After armistice was agreed in 1918 he returned to Australia.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Boyd McCurdy Brisbane QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: great-nephew
