Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edwin Hamson, a railway labourer, born on the 29th May 1851 in Thrussington, Leicestershire (son of William Hamson, 1823-1917 and Letitia Bates, 1826-1885) and his wife, Sarah Ann Hamson (nee Newton, married on the 26th May 1874 in St. Andrew’s Church, Burton Overy, Leicestershire), born on the 26th July 1851 in Burton Overy and baptised on the 22nd February 1852 in St. Andrew’s Church, Burton Overy (daughter of John Newton, 1820-1881 and Elizabeth Grewcock, 1822-1904). Harry was born in the July quarter of 1891 in Syston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 2nd August 1891 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, his siblings were, Mary Elizabeth, a hosiery trade worker, born on the 13th October 1874 and baptised on the 16th May 1875 in St. Andrew’s Church, Burton Overy, Edith, a hosiery trade worker, born on the 20th March 1877 and baptised on the 15th April 1877 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, John Edwin, a painter, born on the 13th February 1879 and baptised on the 16th March 1879 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Emily, a hosiery trade worker, born on the 14th March 1882 and baptised on the 7th May 1882 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Walter, an iron foundry fitter, born in the April quarter of 1885 and baptised on the 5th July 1885 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, Mabel, born on the 1st September 1888 and baptised on the 7th October 1888 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston and Ethel May, born on the 13th May 1893 and baptised on the 2nd July 1893 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Syston, all his siblings were born in Syston, in March 1901 the family home was at St. Peter Street, Syston. Harry’s father died on the 4th December 1901, in Syston, aged 50. In April 1911 Harry was employed as a general labourer and was residing in the family home at High Street, Syston, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Mary, a hosiery trade worker, Walter, a general labourer and Ethel, a shorthand typist. Harry also had an older sibling, Jannet who was born in the January quarter of 1876 in Syston. Harry’s older brother Walter, also fell in action.
Harry’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regiment. Private, date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 3497.
Posted. To 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. (Territorial Force). Private, date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France on the 2nd March 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field. 13th October 1915.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Harry nominated his widowed mother, Sarah Ann as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 - At 9.00 am Battalion marched to SAILLY LABOURSE. Dinners and teas were cooked here. Rations for 134 men issued. At 5.15 pm Battalion marched to VERMELLES where stores were taken up. At 11.00 pm Battalion arrived in trenches.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Wednesday, November 17th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private H. Hamson, also enlisted in the Territorials on the outbreak of the war. His mother lives at “Belmont,” Albion-street, Syston.
On Thursday December 2nd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page five, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – DEATHS. – HAMSON. – Killed in action, October 13th, Harry, the beloved son of S. A. Hamson, “Belmont,” Albion-street, Syston, aged 24.
On Friday, December 3rd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. Leicestershire and the War. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Mrs. Hamson of Albion-street, Syston, has received official news that her son. Private H. HAMSON was killed on October 13th. Private Hamson joined the 1st-4th Leicester’s shortly before Christmas last, and went to the front as a “bomb thrower.” He was an able solo cornet player of the Syston and Thurmaston Prize Silver Band, and before joining the army was in the employ of W. T. Elmore and Son, Ltd., Thurmaston.
On Friday December 10th 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – SYSTON SOLDIER KILLED. Mrs. Hamson, of Albion-street, Syston, has received official news that her son, Private H. Hamson, was killed on October 13th. Private Hamson joined the 1st/4th Leicester’s shortly before Christmas last, and went to the front as a bomb thrower. He was an able solo cornet player in the Syston and Thurmaston Silver Band, and before joining the army was in the employ of W. T. Kilmore and Son, Ltd., Thurmaston.
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