Tunic belonging to Captain George Redfearn Hamilton

Tunic belonging to Captain George Redfearn Hamilton, c. 1917
Historical note: 

Dr George Redfearn Hamilton came from a prominent Sydney family and was the son of the eminent judge and parliamentary draftsman, Hugh Montgomerie Hamilton (1854-1932.) GR Hamilton was educated at North Shore Grammar and the University of Sydney, where he graduated as a doctor in 1916.

Later that year, he enlisted with the Australian Army Medical Corps after spending the previous twelve months as a Lieutenant with the 25th Voluntary Infantry. Promoted to Captain, he embarked for overseas service in January 1917 and arrived in France in June the same year. He served with various units on the Western Front including the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, the 4th Battalion as RMO and the 1st Machine Gun Battalion.

Seriously wounded on the Somme on 25 August 1918, he was invalided back to England where he spent ten months recuperating in hospital. Hamilton used his time in England well during 1919 and 1920 and continued his medical training. He also visited the USA on his return to Australia where he received further training.

In private practice back in Sydney, Hamilton became a skin specialist. Fascinated with aviation after the war, he was killed along with school friend and fighter ace Captain Les Holden MC when their aircraft crashed on a Sydney-to-Brisbane mail flight at Byron Bay in 1932.

Detail of tunic belonging to Captain George Redfearn Hamilton, who served in the Australian Army Medical Corps.

Detail of tunic belonging to Captain George Redfearn Hamilton, who served in the Australian Army Medical Corps.

Detail of tunic belonging to Captain George Redfearn Hamilton, who served in the Australian Army Medical Corps.

Category: 
Uniforms
Themes: 
Australian Army Medical Corps
Conflict: 
First World War (1914-18)
Production Date: 
c. 1917

On this day

On this day
3 June

1942 — Battle of MIDWAY began. This decisive victory by the US Navy over the Japanese Navy shifted the balance of sea power in the Pacific and forced Japan to abandon plans to attack New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa. Japanese losses were 4 aircraft carriers, 1 cruiser, 248 aircraft, and over 3,000 sailors.  American losses were 1 aircraft carrier, 1 destroyer, 150 aircraft, and 307 men

1944 — 78 Squadron, RAAF, carried out the last major air combat by the RAAF in WW2, off BIAK Island, New Guinea. 10 enemy planes were shot down for the loss of one Australian plane and pilot

1969 — HMAS MELBOURNE collided with USS FRANK E EVANS in the South China Sea.  EVANS was cut in half and 74 of her crew were killed