Michael Pakenham Hamilton (1894–1965)

AM1

 

Royal Air Force 160664  

All photos courtesy Judith Fearnall (née Hamilton)

Michael P Hamilton in 1918

Michael in Egypt 1918

Biography
Michael was born in 894 at Bullbridge and died in 1965 at Dublin.
Brothers Michael and George Hamilton were apprenticed at Marshall, Sons & Co. in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. By the time they joined the RAF during WW1, both were mechanical engineers at Marshalls. During WW1, Marshalls manufactured naval gun mountings, shells and shell fuses in their Britannia works, and over 8000 military vehicles from their Trent works, as well as aircraft, tanks, boilers, and chemical and engineering plant. The brothers' niece recalled that they were sent to Egypt with the RAF to train men in the use of specific munitions produced by Marshalls. She produced two framed photographs of naval guns manufactured by Marshalls during the brothers' employment there.

marshal naval gun

The Marshall naval gun

Michael and Edward Hamilton

Michael (left) with older brother Edward

Michael P Hamilton in 1920

Michael in 1920

Michael's father was John P Hamiltion who was manager of the limeworks at Bullbridge.

John P Hamilton in 1908

John Pakenham Hamilton (1861-1946), pictured with his son, Henry Pakenham Hamilton (1903-1982), circa 1908

Michael's father, John, was the son of a noted Irish landowner, philanthropist and religious writer. He was raised in Scotland, was educated at Eton, then at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He then served as a student with the Butterley Company and received his colliery manager's certificate in 1885. He was subsequently employed for a short time by Messrs. Baird & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, for whom he took up an appointment in the coal mining industry in India. He later worked in the same industry in Africa. On his return to the UK, he returned to the Butterley Company and became manager of the limeworks at Bullbridge in 1893. He apparently remained in this position until the limeworks closed in 1933, whereupon he retired and relocated with his wife to Kent to be near one of their sons.

RAF Service Record
Birth 10/11/94, Bull Bridge, Crich; C of E. Enlisted 19/04/18 aged 23 years 5 mths; C of E; occupation Mechanical Engineer (Fitter).
Next of kin Mr JP Hamilton, Bull Bridge, Ambergate, Father. Height 5ft 9½, dark brown hair, brown eyes, fresh complexion.
Egypt from 21/05/18 to 20/03/19.
British War and Victory medals

Transfer to RAF Reserve 08/05/19

Michael Hamilton RAF WW1

Michael, on the right, Egypt 1918

RAF armamnet school India 1918

RAF Armament School, Cairo 1918

RAF Institute India 1918

Institute, Cairo 1918

His brother George P Hamilton is also on the Roll of Honour. They enlisted together having consecutive service numbers and their records are almost mirror images of each other.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Bull Bridge

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John P Hamilton Head 39   Scotland
Sarah Hamilton Wife 39   Elton
Edward P Hamilton son 8   Derbyshire
Michael P Hamilton son 6   Crich
George P Hamilton son 4   Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 15 page 22

1911: Bedford; School Harper Trust

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Michael Packenham Hamilton Boarder 16   Ambergate

RG14PN8847 RG78PN466 RD174 SD4 ED10 SN32