Gordon Hamilton (Australian footballer)
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| Gordon Hamilton | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Gordon Ross Hamilton | ||
| Date of birth | 13 July 1920 | ||
| Place of birth | East Prahran, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 23 February 1941 (aged 20) | ||
| Place of death | Chelsea, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Myer's | ||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1940 | South Melbourne | 2 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1940. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Gordon Ross Hamilton (13 July 1920 – 23 February 1941) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1][2] He was the first South Melbourne player to die on active service in World War II.[3][4]
Football
Hamilton was born in East Prahran on 13 July 1920, to Gordon and Lily Hamilton.[5][6] He arrived at South Melbourne from Myer's in 1940 as a centre player.[7] His first opportunity to play league football came in round 15, when Hamilton played for South Melbourne in a six-point loss to Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval.[8] A week later, Hamilton played his second senior game with South Melbourne, this time in a four-point win over Geelong.[9] Hamilton, described as a "promising young player", was 19th man in both games.[10]
Military
On 30 December 1940 Hamilton enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy, and he was sent to HMAS Cerberus, near Crib Point on the Mornington Peninsula.[5]
Soon after, on 23 February 1941, Hamilton drowned off a Chelsea beach, in an attempt to save the life of a young girl who had got into difficulties in the choppy seas.[11] His companions were able to bring the girl to shore and revive her, but Hamilton didn't make it back.[12] His body was found 300 yards away on a sandbank.[13][14]
On Monday 24 February the flag over the South Melbourne Cricket Club pavilion was flown at half mast as a tribute to Hamilton, and Mr. Pat Farnan and Mr. Fred J. Ferry of the South Melbourne Football Club attended his funeral.[15] Hamilton was buried at Fawkner Cemetery on Tuesday, 25 February 1941.[16][17]
