John Patrick Hamilton VC (24 January 1896 – 27 February 1961)
Enlisted aged eighteen, as a private in the 1st AIF on 15 September 1914. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion (NSW) and embarked from Sydney in October 1914 on HMAT Euripides. After training in Egypt his battalion sailed for Gallipoli and took part in the landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 - his battalion coming ashore in the 2nd and 3rd waves.
He was 19 years old, and still a private when the following deed took place at Sasse's Sap during the battle of Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsula for which he was awarded the VC:
For most conspicuous bravery on 9th August, 1915, in the Gallipoli Peninsula. During a heavy bomb attack by the enemy on the newly captured position at Lone Pine, Private Hamilton, with utter disregard to personal safety, exposed himself under heavy fire on the parados, in order to secure a better fire position against the enemy's bomb throwers. His coolness and daring example had an immediate effect. The defence was encouraged, and the enemy driven off with heavy loss
—-Commonwealth Gazette No. 28 24 February 1916
The 3rd Battalion was decimated at Lone Pine but, after the withdrawal from Gallipoli and reorganization in Egypt the Battalion was redeployed to the Western Front in March 1916 and went into the line at Armentieres. Hamilton was promoted corporal on 3 May and fought at the Battle of Pozieres in July, the Battle of Mouquet Farm in August and Flers in November. He was promoted sergeant in May 1917 and that year his battalion served at Bullecourt and at the Menin Road and Broodseinde theatres of the Battle of Passchendale.
After officer cadet training at Cambridge, England from July 1918 he was commissioned a 2Lt in January 1919 and promoted Lt in April 1919. After demobilisation, he was discharged in September 1919.
During World War II he served as a lieutenant with the 16th Garrison Battalion and several training battalions. In 1942 he went to New Guinea with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, then served with Australian Labour Employment Companies until 1944 when he transferred to the Australian Army Labour Service. He was promoted captain in the AMF in October 1944. He returned to Sydney in April 1946.
He was a wharf labourer for over thirty years, also working as a shipping clerk, storeman and packer. He was an active in the Waterside Workers Federation and in the Sydney branch of the ALP.
Hamilton died of cerebro-vascular on 27 February 1961 and is buried in Woronora cemetery. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial and was the only one awarded to Hamilton's unit during the war.