William fortye hamilton
William Fortye Hamilton 535993 was born June 17th, 1873 in Cumberland, Alberta. There was no note as to who his were parents because Hamilton was older when he enlisted. He stood at 6ft 4in with a dark complexion, dark hair, and grey eyes. He was single and never married he did have a brother, Miles Hamilton who had a daughter named Alice. He lived in Auburn, Peterborough, Ontario with his brother. William was religious he was a member of the Church of England. When tested for the medical examination it was found the first two toes on his left foot was amputated. Hamilton enlisted at age forty-three on June 6th, 1916. He had previously worked as a Clerk with three years' experience with the 57th Regiment.
William arrived in England via the S. S. Grampian on May, 1916 and was put in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. He often guarded Clarence house during his time in London. On August 1st Hamilton was promoted to Corporal then in October he requested to be reverted to ranks.
While Hamilton never made it to the front. The day of Hamilton's death was a sad one. He and another soldier Private Robertson were at the hospital playing cards and eating dinner. Then Robertson and Hamilton went toward Roehampton Road to the Railroad Hotel where they have drinks. Witnesses say they were sober when they left they went out into the street and then were hit by a motor bus. Hamiltons, liver and heart were ruptured and his skull and ribs were fractured. Hamilton was instantly killed and Robertson was critically injured and died later that day. Hamiltons, liver and heart were ruptured and his skull and ribs were fractured.
William Fortye Hamilton served one year six months and seven days before his death. Hamilton is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery grave reference IX. B. 10. He is also on the Peterborough war memorial. His page in the book of remembrance will be shown June 4th.
All letters are written by students in the perspective of their soldiers.
hospitals during the war
During the Great War Upper Lodge on Hampton Hill was turned into the King's Canadian Red Cross Hospital. With the permission of King George V for the Canadian soldiers serving in Bushy Park. This is where Hamilton was stationed and Robertson went after the accident. During WW1 any available buildings were turned into hospitals.
Most injuries were so bad that most effected limbs had to be amputated. Doctors used amputation to stop infections. As antibiotics were not very available this method saved many lives. But as a result many soldiers lost their limbs. They also practiced debridement which is when they cut the tissue around the wound and then it was sealed.
Injuries were not the only problems there was also disease they had to treat. In the No. 1 Canadian hospital alone they had 458 cases of influenza and 992 of gonorrhoea.
But enviably if the soldiers injuries were bad enough they would be sent back home to their families. But that was only in severe cases in which they were no longer of use or they could no longer serve.
