WW1 Merchant Seamen

[Banks2233]

Hello,
    I have a delema regarding a gent on my Ancestral Tree.
    His name is John Harold McHamilton.
    B- Shetland Abt 1869 D 07/06/1958
    If this is the same person that came to Australia, he married Rosa May     
    Callander in 1909 B-1879 Maldon D 20/03/1968
    They had a son that has the exact same name as his father (hohum)born
    1910.
    I found a WW1 record in the UK Archives and was wondering if this is the
    Same man. I haven't been able to find, and it may be just me, him on any
    Passenger lists and whether Shetland is Scotland or the Islands. I have
    Also been messaged by another person trying to find anything on these
    People. She wrote there was a mention 2 brothers came to
    Australia, but records are scarce.
     
    Jan.
   PS: I have found the same JH McHamilton (Snr) on Australian electoral
   Rolls  and Crew lists and his employment as being a Chief Cook and travelling extensively around the world, same person?

[Dundee]

Father

http://soda.naa.gov.au/record/4435993/1

Son

http://soda.naa.gov.au/record/9302733/1

Debra 

[Banks2233]

Hi Dundee,
    I wonder if records in the U.K. show (Snr) as being a cook in the WW1 campaign, to try and connect there and here. But you have found a DofB for the son and the chief cook. Thank you.
Jan

[Banks2233]

Dundee,
   I found a very obscure record for a Harold McHamilton in Armidale, NSW. his date of birth made him 19 years older than Snr. Maybe a relative. Would you know if he is a connection, I just cannot find anything through normal channels.
Jan

[MaxD]

There is a card for the WW1 Mercantile Marine Medal and British War Medal to John Harold McHamilton giving place of birth Shetland 1869.  It records that they were issued to him by the Royal Australian Navy (this may simply have been the channel through which the British Medal Office got them to Australia, it doesn't say he was in the RAN).  The card has an address 48 Clevedon Road Hurtsville NSW.  I am reading the detail from the low image viewer which is not 100% clear but you can download the card at:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8055925

MaxD

[Banks2233]

Hi MaxD,
    That would make sense as he settled out here. They are buried in my local cemetery not far from me. The problem now is, there is no record of the McHamilton name in Shetland.

[MonicaL]

As an aside...http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot?id=112859

Monica

PS: Other post here just for background
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=796506.0

[Banks2233]

Hi MonicaL,
    What a find, sad they were sold off though. Thanks for that.
Jan