James Brooks Hamilton was born in Maitland, SA on 7 march 1923. He was the son of William John Hamilton Smith and Adelaide Mary Belle Smith. They lived in Prospect, South Australia.

James's older brother, Colin George Hamilton, was a chemistry student when he joined the Australian Army. He ended up as a private in 2/8 Field Ambulance in North Africa. Colin died of wounds he sustained during the siege of Tobruk on the 2nd of May 1941.

James joined the Royal Australian Air Force in Adelaide on 21 july 1941. After his training he was shipped to England and attached to 218 squadron, operating Stirling bombers out of Downham Market.

F/S Smith's crew consisted of;

218 Squadron
 

Sgt Gilbert Ernest Rose
Sgt Reginald H.Cramm
Sgt W.H.Davies
Sgt C.R.Minns
Sgt G.Labiuk RCAF
F/S P.W.Farr

On 23 June 1943 this crew took off in Stirling BF572 HA-K. they took off from Downham Market at 00.09.

They were last heard of when they had radio contact with their base at 02.35. They were lost over the North Sea without a trace.

Three of the crew washed ashore on the Dutch coast and are buried at different cemeteries. The rest of the crew is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial. F/S Farr became a PoW. He was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.314.

F/S Smith is buried at Castricum Protestant Cemetery, Plot J. Coll. grave 5.
 

Castricum, The Netherlands

See also:
Sgt Gilbert Rose
Sgt Reginald Cramm
Sgt W.H.Davies
Sgt C.R.Minns
Sgt George Labiuk

Sources:
www.cwgc.org
www.awm.gov.au

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Directions to Castricum Protestant Cemetery

posted 30 March 2008

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

Home | Search | Research | About