Private Fred Hamilton 116154 was born in 17 September 1895 in Manchester, England. Fred was a farmer and carpenter. His father was Jonathan Hamilton of 1625 36th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. Fred stood 5′ 8″ tall, 148 pounds, with dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. He enlisted with 11th Canadian Mounted Rifles (C.M.R.) on 18 March 1915 in Vancouver.
Fred will suffer from a nervous breakdown after his first week in the trenches. He became obsessed with digging for a month before his evacuation.
Service
Sailed for England aboard SS LAPLAND, 25 July 1916. Served with the 29th (Vancouver) Canadian Infantry Battalion from 13 October 1916. Appointed Lance Corporal 22 May 1916 on arrival to Chenton Camp, 11th C.M.R. Reverts to the Ranks at his own request for the purpose of proceeding overseas with draft, 10 October 1916. Drafted to 29th Battalion, 13 October 1916.
Arrived in France, 14 October 1916. Joined unit 27 October 1916. Fred joined his unit at Noulette Wood near at Souchez. His unit had just arrived back from the Battle of Flers-Courcelette earlier in the month. He was not there for long, admitted to No. 7 C.C.S., Le Havre, ulcer of the lip, 28 October 1916. Fred discharged to duty, gingivitis, 21 November 1916.
He rejoined his unit, now in Bouvigny Wood in Souchez. He endures a week of trench mortar activity, before the 29th Battalion moved back to Lorette Spur on 28 November 1916. The following day they practiced Bombing Instruction and perhaps are seen by the German Air Force, for the next day, enemy long-range guns had found their position.
Onset
On 4 December 1916, the unit is back in the line for a week at Souchez. Except for many Gas Alerts, the enemy grows quiet in the sector. Fred however, is deeply troubled.
Captain W. J. Taylor writes, “On the 8-12-16 he paraded to me, complaining of insomnia and nervousness. On questioning, I found he was addicted to masturbation. This I had corroborated by men who knew him I had him under observation for a week, and his manner improved.”
On 9 December 1916, Fred’s Orderly Sergeant reported him to the M.O. “Falling out on parade without permission, asking foolish questions, thinking he was going to be shot. Would not dig a pit as he said it was his own grave. Said he was rotting away with Syphilis.” Later medical examinations will reveal no trace of venereal disease for Fred.
Investigation
The M.O. investigated, and reported that Fred complains of nervousness and insomnia. On 10 December 1916, the 29th Battalion moves back to the Bouvigny Huts for training. Returning to the front line on 16 December, with Fred. Gas Alerts are on, but there is also much trench mortar activity. It is a harrowing week in the line for Fred and his comrades.
Back to Lorette Spur on 23 December 1916, the Gas Alert is off. The unit enjoys a fine day on Christmas, but on the day of 27 December, the war is back on in full force. However, the night is quiet. No picnic is had on 29 December with some enemy whizzbangs and fishtail bombs during the day, followed by heavy rain at night.
The unit spends the remainder of the year pumping out the trenches. Each night, Fred goes out on a Working Party with the Canadian Engineers. Meanwhile, Private Fred Hamilton continues to dig, dig, dig.
Nervous Breakdown
The day is dull on 1 January 1917, and the 29th Battalion is pumping and repairing damage in the trenches. They soon need to duplicate their effort, for their trenches and HQ wrecked by an enemy attack on 3 January 1917.
That same night, Lt. McSpadden writes to the adjutant of the 2nd Entrenching Battalion, “I am sending Private Fred Hamilton back to battalion on account of his actions which point to insanity. He works three times as hard as an ordinary man, and at times won’t stop even for meals.”
Captain W. J. Taylor also wrote to the M.O. “I beg to report, please, that I am sending the marginally noted man to Hospital, for A.D.M.S. observation”.
Fred admitted to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance on 3 January 1917. He was under observation and showed marked confusion of ideas and difficulty of concentration. He will only talk freely about digging a trench which he thinks it is his duty to finish.
At No. 22 C.C.S. on 8 January 1917, he was quiet and reserved. Ideas confused, memory bad, answers often irrelevant. Appears to think he has disgraced himself and he must wipe out the stigma in the trenches.
Hospitalization
Fred’s unit moved back into the trenches to relieve the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion on the night of 9 January 1917. However, Fred will never return to his unit. Fred admitted to No. 26 General Hospital, Etaples, “Nervous Breakdown”, 9 January 1917.
Transferred to Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, “Sick Mental”, 14 January 1917. On admission to Netley, Fred answers questions quite irrationally. Says he was sent sick 5 days ago, as he was imagining he was for a court martial as he had done wrong.
On examination, “Has always been highly nervous, and scared at the least thing but he has otherwise had fair health and has never had a nervous breakdown. Two aunts of his died in Asylums and his mother suffered from nervous weakness. Has been moderate to drink. Denies venereal disease. Has been digging most of the time, and has not been in the firing zone”.
Indeed, Fred has been in the firing zone. However, we will learn there was no history of mental illness in his family.
Disgrace
“Says he is not ill but he imagines things. He does something wrong and worries about it. States he has disgraced himself by not doing his duty and bracing up to be a man. Thinks he is going to be court martialled and will be condemned to death. Tears easily start into his eyes. Says he has never really been happy. Expression is dejected and though is somewhat retarded. Fully orientated and memory fair. No hallucinations found” – Lt. C.S. Read, R.A.M.C.
Private Fred Hamilton admitted to Moore Barracks Canadian Hospital, Shorncliffe, 20 January 1917. His state is still catatonic, resistive. Booked to sail for Canada on 16 February 1917. However, admitted to 1st Western General Hospital, Liverpool, “Mental”, 20 February 1917. Captain F. L. Neely, C.A.M.C., writes, “This man is resistive to all natural impulses. Difficult at times to get him to reply to questions. Emotional. Cries at times”.
Dementia
Readmitted to Ward 24, Moore Barracks Canadian Hospital, Shorncliffe,”Dementia”, 24 February 1917. Discharged on 12 March 1917, for the purposes of proceeding overseas. Private Fred Hamilton’s father was now residing at 65 Sloane St., Broofs Bar, Manchester.
Sailed for Canada per the Hospital Ship LETITIA on 12 March 1917. S.o.S. Westminster Asylum, Esquimalt, 31 March 1917. On 4 April 1917, the Medical Board reports. “(Fred) was nervous before enlistment, but developed present condition in France. He is in a constant state of fear. He believes he has disgraced himself.”
Upon examination, Fred falls down and tries to get to the door and has to be restrained. His hands are in constant motion, and his body sways back and forth. “His condition was evidently latent before enlistment, and was activated by active service”. The board declares his degree of incapacity to be total.
Recovery
Private Fred Hamilton’s service record is notably sparse for the next year. One might expect Fred may never recover and spend the rest of his days in the asylum. What follows will come as a very pleasant surprise.
On 6 March 1918, the Medical Board in Esquimalt, B.C. reports. “Patient is a well built sturdy looking man, who complains of nothing but occasional headache. He is heavier now (168 pounds) then when he enlisted. His appetite and sleep are normal. His memory is returning. He has been in New Westminster Hospital for mental disease for eight months. He is perfectly rational in his conversation and demeanour. There is no history of mental trouble in the family. Heart sounds normal. Lung sounds normal”.
Captain R.L. Miller wrote. “That he is completely recovered from his mental derangement and is fit to draw his own pay and be placed in Class “E” for discharge”. Fred officially discharged as Being Physically Unfit for Further Service, 18 March 1918 in Victoria, B.C. His character noted as “Very Good.”
The D.V.A. did not report on the date of Fred’s death. His burial location is also unknown. Was the Last Post ever played for Private Fred Hamilton?
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