Alexander Hamilton

Killed in Action on the 14/09/1914 at the Battle of the Aisne

Alexander and the Battalion landed at Le Havre as Army Troops on the 14/08/1914. On the 05/09/1914 they joined the 1st Brigade,1st Division. The Battle of the Aisne, 12th - 15th September 1914 : The advance northwards from the Marne is halted as the Germans dig in along the heights above the River Aisne. British attacks are repelled and both sides dig in: for the British, the Aisne was the root of trench warfare. Extracts from the personal diary of Captain C. J. Paterson of the 1st South Wales Borderers (3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps) : Monday 14/09/1914 - "As there is only one road by which the whole 1st Division can push on, it takes some time and we get orders not to move to 9am. At about 8 it is discovered that the bridges over the River Aisne have been so damaged that we cannot even move at 9, and as a matter of fact we move at 2pm. When we do move it is not for very long. We crossed the river with shells dropping around us. The Germans have destroyed most of the bridges and are shelling or trying to shell the ones they have left, hoping to catch us on them. However, we cross and line a ridge to the north of Bourg. The cavalry pushes out and we billet in Bourg. Find a very nice house in which a good dinner and to bed on the floor with Homfray. I refused to spend another night sitting up and say so plainly. Another mail arrives with several letters for me. Very nice. Orders to move at 5am2. THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1914 WAS LOST ON THE AISNE. SEE PHOTOS x 18 FOR A REPORT ON THE ACTIONS OF THE 1st BATTALION CAMERON HIGHLANDERS ON THE 14/09/1914 AND THE REST OF SEPTEMBER 1914. Alexander was a Reservist and was Killed in Action exactly 1 month after arriving in France as the Allies tried to stop the German advance to Paris. Alexander's brother Private Richard Hamilton of the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry (14888) was Killed in Action on the 01/07/1916 on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme aged 21 and is remembered on the Larkhall and Airdrie War Memorials. For information on Richard see photos. Alexander was reburied in Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Alexander's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2 (brother Robert mentioned), his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his Reburial Form, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Alexander's Pension Records x 2, Grand-Seraucourt British Cemetery and the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge. Alexander's grave inscription reads "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN". Also see photos for younger brother Richard, his Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, Thiepval Memorial, Richard's name on the Thiepval Memorial, Airdrie War Memorial, Richard's name on the Airdrie War Memorial, Larkhall War Memorial, Richard's name on the Larkhall War Memorial, Alexander and Robert remembered at the Family Plot in Larkhall Cemetery, Richard's Pension Records x 5, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and the 1st Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he died).