Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
NameLieut Gerald de Courcy Hamilton RN 
[2, Vol I, p.860], [3, His birth, Q3 of 1899, Guildford dist, vol 2a, p. 75], [27, LG of Ireland 1958, Hamilton article, p. 348]
[2, Vol I, p.860], [3, His birth, Q3 of 1899, Guildford dist, vol 2a, p. 75], [27, LG of Ireland 1958, Hamilton article, p. 348]Birth1 Aug 1899, Guildford district, Surrey
Death10 Feb 1922, Switzerland
GeneralOnly s. Served in WW1. d.unm. dsp.
EducationEdinburgh House School, Lee-on-Solent.
FatherConstantine de Courcy Hamilton (1861-1927)
MotherEliza Susan Eccles Swinton (1863-1951)
Notes for Lieut Gerald de Courcy Hamilton RN
Burke includes that he died from illness contracted on active service; I wonder if he was gassed?
A bit of confirmation comes from this communication passed on to me in Oct 2011:
“My Aunt lived in Peebles, and when she died left me an old Autograph book. In the book there are a few entries mostly from the period 1917 to 1922. Among those entries is onedated Sept 1st 1919, from Mr and Mrs C. de Courcy Hamilton, Hafton, Argyllshire "In Remembrance of a pleasant week spent at Peebles" Underneath this it is also signed by G. de Courcy Hamilton Sub lieut R. N. R.N.A. Hospital
“I assume the Hospital referred to is in fact Peebles Hydro Hotel, which was as I understand it a Naval Hospital during the first World War.
“How the de Courcy Hamilton's came to be in contact with my Aunt is anybodys guess. My Aunt would only have been about 15 or 16 years old then. I hope this scant information is of interest, and puts another little piece of the story in place.
“It does seem to me that he was in Switzerland as a result of some kind of respiratory problem. I am not sure what kind of vessel he served on or where”
Later he added some good research:
“Gerald started his career as a midshipman May 1912 and in Aug 1914 was transferred to the Dreadnought Battleship HMS Russell at Scapa Flow. He was involved in the Bombardment of Zeebrugge. The ship was sent to Belfast in October 1915 for a refit, and he was transferred to the Battleship HMS Dominion from Nov 1915. The Dominion was unsuccessfully attacked by a German Submarine in May 1916. During his time on this ship he was appointed as Acting Sub Lieutenant on15th July 1917 and finished on the Dominion on 8/10/17 and went for shore training after which his appointment as Sub Lieutenant was confirmed.
“He moved to HMS Dolphin which was at Gosport, and was a shore based anti Submarine training establishment. It had two trained seals Queenie and Billikins. They were trained to locate enemy Submarines and circle them barking which was supposed to guide the British Submarine to them.
he was there until 31/1/19.
“There is no mention of his Hospitalisation other than to say he was appointed to Lieutenant and retired as medically unfit on half pay 14th July 1920.
“ps his report says he was a conscientious, willing and good Officer”
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A bit of confirmation comes from this communication passed on to me in Oct 2011:
“My Aunt lived in Peebles, and when she died left me an old Autograph book. In the book there are a few entries mostly from the period 1917 to 1922. Among those entries is onedated Sept 1st 1919, from Mr and Mrs C. de Courcy Hamilton, Hafton, Argyllshire "In Remembrance of a pleasant week spent at Peebles" Underneath this it is also signed by G. de Courcy Hamilton Sub lieut R. N. R.N.A. Hospital
“I assume the Hospital referred to is in fact Peebles Hydro Hotel, which was as I understand it a Naval Hospital during the first World War.
“How the de Courcy Hamilton's came to be in contact with my Aunt is anybodys guess. My Aunt would only have been about 15 or 16 years old then. I hope this scant information is of interest, and puts another little piece of the story in place.
“It does seem to me that he was in Switzerland as a result of some kind of respiratory problem. I am not sure what kind of vessel he served on or where”
Later he added some good research:
“Gerald started his career as a midshipman May 1912 and in Aug 1914 was transferred to the Dreadnought Battleship HMS Russell at Scapa Flow. He was involved in the Bombardment of Zeebrugge. The ship was sent to Belfast in October 1915 for a refit, and he was transferred to the Battleship HMS Dominion from Nov 1915. The Dominion was unsuccessfully attacked by a German Submarine in May 1916. During his time on this ship he was appointed as Acting Sub Lieutenant on15th July 1917 and finished on the Dominion on 8/10/17 and went for shore training after which his appointment as Sub Lieutenant was confirmed.
“He moved to HMS Dolphin which was at Gosport, and was a shore based anti Submarine training establishment. It had two trained seals Queenie and Billikins. They were trained to locate enemy Submarines and circle them barking which was supposed to guide the British Submarine to them.
he was there until 31/1/19.
“There is no mention of his Hospitalisation other than to say he was appointed to Lieutenant and retired as medically unfit on half pay 14th July 1920.
“ps his report says he was a conscientious, willing and good Officer”
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