Roy (Poppa) Hamilton, aged 17 in 1916
Poppa, my great grandfather fought in WW1. He was a dairy farmer and enlisted as an infantry man at the age of 17 (declared age of 19) in the Australian 34th Battalion. These fellas travelled on steam ships for a month and a half to England for training before coming over to France to enjoy the terrible winter of 1916-17 and fighting on the Western front including the Ypres sector of Belgium. Luckily for me he survived these years. After the war was over he met Nana (my great grandmother) in England got married and eventually returned to Australia. During the journey home the men and women travelled in different areas of the ship newly married couples included. Upon their return Poppa again took up dairy farming and started a family.
Story submitted by Will Maguire
