Thomas Hamilton was born on July 24, 1916, the son of Alexander and Selena Hamilton, of Sarnia. He had four brothers: Charles, Robert, James and Herbert, the latter a Private serving at Camp Borden at the time of Thomas’ death. Thomas attended public schools and Sarnia Collegiate in Sarnia. Prior to enlisting, Thomas was employed by Holmes Foundry Company, listing his occupation as a machinist. When a recruiting station was opened in Sarnia shortly after the outbreak of war, Thomas was among the first to enlist, joining the Canadian Army. He married his wife Blanche Hamilton (nee Billard), and at wartime, they resided at 386 Savoy Street, Sarnia. Thomas and Blanche had a daughter together, Ann Hamilton. After his death, Thomas’ Death Certificate recorded his residence address as Cemetery Road, Sarnia.
As a member of the Royal Canadian Engineers, 1 Field Park Coy, Thomas went overseas on December 12, 1940. As part of his engineering unit, he had participated in the Dieppe raid two years prior to his death. Shortly before his death, Corporal Thomas Hamilton had sent a letter home to his relatives in which he said that he was in France, was getting along well, and asked his family not to worry about him. On August 9, 1944, Thomas Hamilton would lose his life while fighting during the Battle of Normandy, the result of a mine explosion. In mid-August of 1944, several hours after his wife Blanche and their daughter Anne left for a vacation with friends in Royal Oak, Michigan, word from the Department of National Defence was received in Sarnia that her husband, Corporal
Thomas Hamilton, had been killed in France on August 9 by a mine explosion. Members of his family communicated the news to Blanche and she and her daughter returned home to Sarnia immediately.
Thomas Hamilton would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (France). In December of 1944, Thomas Hamilton was awarded posthumously the decoration C-in-C Certificate, for Good Service. Twenty-eight year old Thomas Hamilton is buried in Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, Calvados, France, Grave XIII.E.14. On Thomas Hamilton’s headstone are inscribed the words, Lovingly remembered by his wife, daughter, parents and brothers.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, N, 2C, 2D