( A picture of Victor Coombs who was killed with Nelson Bn ) Alex Hamill would have known him.

A VERY RARE & HIGHLY DESIRABLE

'NELSON BATTALION' R.N.V.R.
"GAVRELLE WINDMILL"
MILITARY MEDAL & 1914-1915 Trio.

To: CZ-4607. P.O. A.R. HAMILL.

LONDON GAZETTE 9th July 1917.

[BIOGRAPHY]
ALEXANDER RHIND HAMILL was born 2nd December 1892 and joined the Royal Navy age 23 on 25th May 1915. After about 6 months in Gallipoli where he was admitted to hospital in Mudros for investigations re: PUO, which having lived in difficult conditions would be due to his having repeated high temperatures and as a precaution against tuberculosis. He remained here for about one month. He then left for France in HMT IONIAN from MUDROS on 10th June 1916 which arrived at Marseilles on 22nd June. The Nelson Battalion then fought during the Battle of the Somme from July 1916. Toward the end of the Somme campaign he was again admitted to General Hospital Dannes Camiers on 8th Nov 1916 with convalescence at Etaples until rejoining his unit on 2nd December 1916. This hospital admission probably saved his life as on 13th November 1916 over 350 of his Nelson Battalion comrades were killed during the Battle of Ancre.

During his extensive service he took part in some of the most famous RND actions of the war, including the famous action at GAVRELLE during which the RND captured the windmill and village after a brutal, hand to hand , street to street battle.


The RND sustained heavy casualties during this famous action.

It was for his great bravery during the Battle of Gavrelle that he was awarded the MILITARY MEDAL.

After winning his MM at GAVRELLE in April 1917, he was given 10 days home U.K. leave with ration allowance. While in the UK his MM was received from Woolwich for an intended presentation, but as Hamill had returned to France on 15th July 1917 this did not occur. He is next seen being severely wounded by a bullet in the elbow of his left arm on 2nd November and admitted next day to General Hospital at Boulogne. Clearly, his wound was giving trouble and he was shipped back to England where on 1st February 1918 he is seen being admitted to North Evington Military Hospital in Leicester where he was finally presented with his Military Medal on 16th March 1918. His wound had damaged the ulner nerve and humerous and the nerve condition was not improving.

He was also present with the RND during the famous actions around VARLET FARM at POELKAPELLE.
He was badly wounded in that area while serving as a Leading Seaman on 2nd November 1917. (Gun shot wound to elbow) and this was the reason for his eventual discharge.

A good Scot, he hailed from "Loch Lomond, During the summer of 1918 he was taken onto the strength of HMS Vivid a shore base and from there for a final medical board where he was found 'unserviceable' ( Invalided ) on 4th July 1918. He received his Kings Honourable Discharge Certificate on 18th July 1918. A PRESBYTERIAN, he was then living at, "NORTH LODGE" LUSS, LOCH LOMOND and working as an Under Superintendant at the water works. He was a small lad of just 5ft 4" with dark hair and blue eyes.
WE ARE INFORMED THAT THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 550 MM's to the RNVR. ONE CERTAINLY NEVER ENCOUNTERS ANY OF THESE ON LISTS OR AT THE SHOWS .

(SOLD) ( part-exchanges welcome )