If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.
You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

Hamilton A E Sapper 5241

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 9 years, 2 months ago

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

Hamilton A E Sapper 5241 Arthur Ernest 1 LHB 1 Sig Troop 25 Clerk Single Pres

Address: Essendon, Nicholson St, 48

Next of Kin: Hamilton, William, father, 48 Nicholson St, Essendon

Enlisted: 19 Jul 1915

Embarked: A19 Afric 5 Jan 1916

Relatives on Active Service:

Hamilton G M Sapper 5245 brother

Flemington-Kensington Church News, July 1917

5241 Sig A E Hamilton, 1st Signalling Squadron, Anzac Mounted Division. Arthur left these shores on 6th January, 1916. He has taken part in the advance from Egypt to Palestine, and is now with the Imperial Army there. We are not well acquainted with the magnitude of the operations in this quarter of the world war, and Arthur is not pleased at the meager accounts which are given and thinks we ought to have an Australian Press representative there. There is plenty of adventure, and he thinks the war is just getting started in that quarter. The following is an extract from a recent letter - "A few days ago a few of us were in a tight corner, but Providence in the form of a few 'dinkum' Australians got us out with slight loss. I do not think I ever told you that last August a similar thing happened and as a strange coincidence it was the identical time of the special service held at Flemington Church for absent soldiers". The letter goes on to say - "We are now well on into Palestine. The change in the country is wonderful. It is typical of the Keilor district - beautiful green hills and a range of mountains in the background, here and there clumps of trees, plentiful crops and grass in abundance".

Flemington-Kensington Church News, February 1918

ln a letter received from Arthur Hamilton, who is now in the Flying Corps in Palestine, he says. "Every advance brought along something of interest—old battle-fields or old ruins. In one place we found the ruins of an old Church with an altar in it; originally it was supported by 11 pillars, each with a statue of an apostle mounted on it, but only four are left now.

After months of slow progress we captured our first town, where eggs and oranges cost 6d. each, and fish 1/-. . . After a spell we again got on our way, and slowly the vegetation improved — first sand ridges with salt bush, then trees other than palm, then fertile country, with green grass and wild flowers, and crops of grain in ear. Men and horses nearly went frantic with delight . . .

Our chief (Sir E. Allenby) quickly endeared himself to us, all by his example and never-tiring energy. Perhaps I can best describe him as "a real live wire." A few months of wonderful organisation which he personally supervised, careful preparations and thorough rehearsing of
attack have brought him a just reward".

Mentioned in this correspondence:

Eades A B Gunner 4642

Later served in the Australian Flying Corps