2156828 Robert HAMILTON, 186 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

On speaking to family members today - the story goes that he fell and hit his head and drown in a river/stream - he was a very strong swimmer (although a head injury could explain his drowning).

Robert's brothers always thought there was something suspicious abt his death, the telegram they rec'd etc - so the mystery continues.

 

That does sound very interesting. The official telegrams could be very terse and of course were not always detailed about how somebody died.

Its something I've noticed quite a lot in my research, more people died in accidents during the war than we might think. When I was looking through the 10 Berks War Diary while they were in Egypt I found that several men drowned while swimming in the Med.

 

I suppose in unfamiliar surroundings they would be more at risk of being caught out by currents etc But it does seem odd, also I can't get out of my head that his reg were stationed in UK/NW Europe so what was he doing in Tripoli ???- so wish more of the info was online but then again I'd never get anything else done!!!

It's all so fascinating and has reminded me how much I love history.

 

Having just checked CWGC I noticed there are a few Robert Hamiltons killed in 1943 from the Royal Artillery. Are you sure you have the right one?

The only reason I ask is that his parents are from Co. Durham and your family is from Kent. Not impossible I know but just a thought.

Ref the unit CWGC are know to make mistakes. It would be another service records application for me to confirm everything.

Regards
Andy

 

Andy,

Yh defo right one, my husband's family are from Gateshead, and Robert's parents are as named.

I had a feeling you was going to say that. hahhaha Will they state how he died though?

 

I'm no expert on records but I would say no as for any detail. They may record death as an accident, enemy action etc but I would say that it is as far as it goes.

I know the MoD in recent times (Falklands and Iraq War) don't always disclose how soldiers die for one reason or another so I doubt they would have back then.

 

Hmmmmmmm I dislike that answer please try again lol

So what your saying is it's going to stay one of lifes mysteries.

 

Unless its written in a book somewhere or you can identify any living veterans who were there.

Most family members find out how their loved ones die by writing to their friends and colleagues asking them for the truth after they receive notification...Sadly I suspect that even happens today.

 

Yes sad indeed but I can see where the MOD are coming from some details loved ones just does not need to hear I suppose.

 

Have been researching my grandfather's service history and it says he was posted to 161 ind fd bty on 1st January 43 and went on a LAA course shortly after. He went out to middle East the following month and remember him talking about anti aircraft role in the desert using a bren gun?

RA must have had one fd btys during the war!!

 

Hi,

If a kind member looks for your relative on Findmypast Casualty lists that might give you the cause of death - if I remember correctly (accidentally) drowned is one of the classifications.

You will really struggle to glean anything about cause of death in his service record other than a few short words.

A court of enquiry would have been convened to investigate an accidental death (Military equivalent of a Coroners Inquest) but those papers aren’t released by UK MOD - if they still exist and haven’t been weeded out of the file. Canadian service files usually have court of enquiry papers.

The unit war diary might have a one line entry.

Steve

 

Do you have his official service record from the MOD, this will tell you where he was and what unit(s) he was in and when??

TD

 

Robert Hamilton. gnr 2156828. age 23. date of death 14/7/1943, place of death Middle East, cause fractured spine (accidental).

 

regimental number 2156828 allocated to Royal Engineers.

 

Yes thanks got his records and it opened up all of into me and my family didn't know. It shows he was with various units so am hoping to track his movements throughout his service.


Thanks

 

Can any other forum members say wether his death certificate would give any more details, I believe the index to armed forces death certs for WW2 is on findmypast.