Robert Ainslie Hamilton

Robert Ainslie Hamilton entered School House at Oundle in January 1909, was there during the census of 1911 aged 16, and left in July 1912.

In World War One, he became a Second Lieutenant on the 26th July 1915 in the Army Service Corps.

By 1918 he was a Lieutenant and was attached to the 5th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. From 1915 to the beginning of 1918 the battalion was part of the 148th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division which was involved in the defence against the first Phosgene attack (19 December 1915), the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and the Battle of Poelcapelle during the Third Battles of Ypres in 1917.

On 2 February 1918 the battalion was transferred to 187th Brigade in the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division, which was involved in The Battle of Bapaume (25 March) and The First Battle of Arras 1918 (28 March) which were the First Battles of the Somme 1918 in the German 'Spring Offensive'. Below is the Battalion War Diary for that period: Unit War Diary of 5th Battn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI):

Arras 23rd MAR 1918 - The Batn moved to ARRAS. Billeted in the Communal College.

24th Mar 1918 - Battn moved into a position of readiness prior to German ATTACK in front of ARRAS.

ARRAS 25th Mar 1918 - Battn moved by forced march to BUCQUOY to take part and operate to hold up GERMAN advance.

BUCQUOY- 26th Mar 1918 - Took up position in BUCQUOY-PUISIEUX line awaiting German advance. PUISIEUX

27th Mar 1918 - German attack driven in right flank of 62nd Division near ROSSIGNOL WOOD. B and C companies move into Brigade reserve on right flank and counter with tanks driving the enemy back to ROSSIGNOL WOOD. A & D Companies move to right flank in readinesss for counter attack on the 28th.

ROSSIGNOL WOOD 28th Mar 1918 - Counter attack launched at 5.30am in ROSSIGNOL WOOD. A, B & C coys push well forward and regai objectives (being our original front line). D Coy held in reserve. Later A, B & C coys are cut off by enemy and are missing. The Commanding Officer (Lieut Colonel O. C. Watson D.S.O.) killed during this counter attack. Majot T. Shearman assumed command. 29,30,31 Mar 1918 - Battn HQ personnel move up to and occupy trench, S.W. of ROSSIGNOL WOOD on defensive flank. Remnants of D coy join Battn HQ.

Total Casualties: Officers: Killed - 4 Wounded - 2 Missing - 10

Other Ranks Killed - 28 Wounded - 80 Missing - 268

Lieut Colonel O. C. Watson was to be awarded the Victoria Cross as follows: "Maj (A /Lt -Col ) Oliver Cyril Spencer Watson. D S O (R of O ), late K O Yorks LI For most conspicuous bravery, self-sacrificing devotion to duty, and exceptionally gallant leading during a critical period of operations.

His command was at a point where continual attacks were made by the enemy in order to pierce the line, and an intricate system of old trenches in front, coupled with the fact that his position was under constant rifle and machine-gun fire, rendered the situation still more dangerous.

A counter-attack had been made against the enemy position, which at first achieved its object, but as they were holding out in two improvised strong points, Lt-Col Watson saw that immediate action was necessary and he led his remaining small reserve to the attack, organising bombing parties and leading attacks under intense rifle and machine-gun fire.

Outnumbered, he finally ordered his men to retire, remaining, himself in a communication trench to cover the retirement, though he faced almost certain death by so doing.

The assault he led was at a critical moment, and without doubt saved the line. Both in the assault and in covering his men's retirement, he held his life as nothing, and his splendid bravery inspired all troops in the vicinity to rise to the occasion and save a breach being made in a hardly tried and attenuated line.

Lt -Col Watson was killed while covering the withdrawal."

Robert Ainslie Hamilton was one of the other officers killed in action.

His Commanding Officer wrote: "He was killed on the night of March 27, 1918. The enemy had filtered through in a weak part of our line, and your son took a platoon out to bomb them back. In this he was successful, but was killed by an enemy machine gun... He was always cheerful and set a fine example to all ranks."

He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial (Panel 95) in the Somme, France along with over 14,000 other casualties who have no known grave.

Probate:

HAMILTON Robert Ainslie of 52 Rodney street, Liverpool; lieutenant A.S.C. died 28 March 1918 in France. Administration London 12 March to Caroline Emily Hamilton, spinster, and William Langstaff Ainslie solicitor. Effects £2618 14s. 10d. Former Grant Liverpool July 1918.

References: Oundle Memorial book of the Great War

http://oundle-heritage.daisy.websds.net/Filename.ashx?systemFileNam...

Common Wealth War Grave Commission: Regiment/Service: Army Service Corps, attd. 5th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Panel Reference: Panel 95. Memorial: POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France Additional Information: Son of the late Robert J. Hamilton, F.R.C.S.E., of Rodney St., Liverpool

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1582006/HAMILTON,%20ROBE...

Movements of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british...

War Diary of 1/5 Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Ref: WO 95/3091/2 , National Archives, Kew Date: 1918 Feb. - 1919 Feb.

http://www.everymanremembered.org/profiles/soldier/1582006/

Photo of Robert Ainslie Hamilton from the Oundle memorial book

Baptism

1901 census

Notes on Operations 21st March - 5th April 1918, T. Shearman, Major 5th Battn, K.O.Y.L.I.King?s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Trench Map showing Rossignol Wood (Trenches as of 1916)

War Diary of 25th - 31st March 1918 of KOYLI Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

War Diary of March 1918 showing casualties of KOYLI Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Victoria Cross Citation of the commanding officer Lieut-Col O.C.R. Watson

Biography of Robert Ainslie Hamilton* Reference: RootsWeb's WorldConnect - SmartCopy: Jan 21 2017, 19:26:48 UTC

LOTFWW

Medal Index Cards

findmypast Transcription

• First name(s) Robert Amslie
• Last name Hamilton
• Year 1914-20
• Service number -
• Rank Second Lieutenant,Lieutenant
• Second rank Lieutenant
• Regiment Army Service Corps
• Second corps Army Service Corps
• Service record Rank: Second Lieutenant, Corps: Army Service Corps
• Second service record Rank: Lieutenant, Corps: Army Service Corps
• Image link http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D2756702
• Country Great Britain
• Medal type British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920
• Archive reference WO372/8