WHO DO YOU THINK THEY WERE?

A Province-wide challenge to commemorate the centenary of the Great War by researching the histories of ‘local heroes’ has become a labour of love for many cadets across Northern Ireland.

The Competition required the Cadet teams to research and give a presentation on someone from the local area or from their family who had fought in the First World War. The Cadets researched their local hero’s background, their role in the Great War and the effects that the War had on them, as well as some details of the technology used and how the values and standards of soldiers in World War one compares to Soldiers of today. 

All of the teams gave excellent presentations and the judges had a difficult task in selecting an overall winner.  However, Ballymena Army Cadets, Emmalee Wray and Eve Matthewson from Ballymena Cadet Force Detachment gave an outstanding presentation on the personal history of Emmalee’s own great-great grandfather, Private Leonard Hamilton, and their touching account of his life earned them first prize in the competition overall as well as the title of ACF Champions.

Emmalee Wray explained their choice for the ‘local hero’ project, “Within the Army Cadet Force Detachment we often look back at military history so we already knew a bit about some of Northern Ireland’s most prominent World War 1 heroes, but we wanted to find out what the Great War was like for so-called ‘ordinary’ soldiers and we chose my great-great grandfather, Leonard Hamilton.  Looking at his war-time experience and how they shaped his life gave us a real insight into the lifetime mark that war leaves on people.  It also made me feel specially connected to him which was a lovely personal bonus.”

Leonard Hamilton was born in 1892 in Lurgan to Sarah and William Hamilton, both weavers.  Leonard went to Model Primary School in the town until he was 14 when he left to work alongside his parents at the Lurgan Weaving Company.  He soon tired of the job and worked his passage to Canada where he trained as a tailor, sending money home to help his parents and never losing touch with the girl he left behind: Sarah.  

In 1914 he and his co-workers were called up to join the Canadian Army and, in July 1915, he found himself part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force heading for the trenches of Belgium.  

Nothing in his life could have prepared the young man for what he would see and experience as he served at St Eloi, Mount Sorrel, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendale and Amiens.  Despite massive losses all around him, Leonard survived, but his brother, Bob, was killed in action, a sorrow that would haunt the Hamilton family.

Leonard returned to work in Canada, becoming tailor to a Mr Dwight D Eisenhower who would go on to become President of the US.  His sweetheart, Sarah Wilson, joined him and the pair were married in Canada in March 1919, returning some years later to live once again in Lurgan.

Reflecting on the story, Eve Matthewson said, “When we did our research and found out more about the conditions and dangers that Leonard endured we were delighted to think that he had secured a happy family life with Sarah, but we discovered that the war years cast a shadow over his entire life.  When Leonard spoke of the war he became emotional and distraught and he looked for release from those troubling emotions in alcohol.  His life became still more sad and isolated after Sarah’s death when he focused on the deaths and bloodshed he had witnessed in the trenches.”

Emmalee concluded, “Today we all look back on World War 1 with sadness, thinking of the many thousands of people who died or were injured in the dreadful circumstances of trench warfare – and our research helped us to learn a great deal about that.  We also learnt however that, for many people, the tragedy would play out right throughout their lives.  Families can never forget the loss of a loved one and many former soldiers, like Leonard, had their lives permanently blighted by what was referred to as ‘The Great War’.  Our research into war emphasized the value of peace.”

Eve and Emmalee were presented with the “Local Hero” trophy by Brigadier Ralph Wooddisse MBE MC, Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade.

Overall Runners-Up and Combined Cadet Force Champions:

R.B.A.I. students James Polson, Carter Hayes and Bailie Kirkwood chose to research the personal history of distinguished past pupil, Brigadier John Sinton VC  – and their hard work and passion for research earned them top prize in the Combined Cadet Force section of the competition.

John Alexander Sinton was actually born in British Columbia, the son of Ulster-born parents.  In 1890 the family moved back home and John studied for a time here at RBAI before going to Queen’s to study medicine, graduating in 1908.  He later earned degrees at the Universities of Cambridge and Liverpool.

He was a research scholar at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, working with acclaimed experts in Malaria, before he took up an appointment as a Lieutenant in the military branch of the Indian Medical Service (IMS).  While in India, serving in the North West Frontier Province, he continued to balance military duties with his research and he published numerous influential papers on the prevention of Malaria and Cholera.

When the first World War broke out he was in post as the Regimental Medical Officer to the 37th Dogra Regiment and he went, with his regiment, to Southern Mesopotamia (now Southern Iraq) where he was involved in action against Turkish forces. On 21 January 1916 at the Orah Ruins, his courage in attending to the wounded under very heavy fire earned Sinton (now holding the rank of Captain) the Victoria Cross. 

The Citation which accompanied that award read, “For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Although shot through both arms and through the side, he refused to go to hospital, and remained as long as daylight lasted, attending to his duties under very heavy fire. In three previous actions Captain Sinton displayed the utmost bravery.”
He went on to achieve the rank of Brigadier (1943), was awarded the Russian Order of St George and Mentioned in Dispatches six times, transferring, in 1921, from the military to the civil branch of the IMS which he continued to serve with until 1936.

Bailie Kirkwood said, “When we launched into our research we expected to reveal details of great bravery – and we certainly found that – but we also discovered that John Sinton made a huge impact in medicine.  After the War he continued his research working with the Pasteur Institute of India and the Malaria Survey of India and publishing more than 200 scientific papers on Malariology, Chemotherapy, Parasitology and Immunology.  Importantly, he developed a new anti-Malaria drug to replace Quinine and earned an international reputation.”

John Sinton’s energy was unflagging and, when he returned to Britain in 1936, he worked with the London School of Tropical Medicine and the Malaria Laboratory of the Horton Hospital, and acted as Advisor to the Ministry of Health.

Carter Hayes added, “His commitment was just amazing. When the Second World War broke out in 1939, he re-entered military service with the IMS and served in India and East Africa, retiring, aged 60, with the honorary rank of Brigadier in 1943.  Even then, he continued as Consultant Malariologist to the War Office until the end of the decade when he returned to live again in Northern Ireland, involving himself in roles at Queen’s and RBAI as well as serving as High Sheriff and Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the County of Tyrone.   Brigadier Sinton died in 1956 and was buried with full military honours at Cleggan in County Tyrone.”

The information accumulated in the young people’s research will now become an important learning resource for others in the Cadet movement.