Thomas Shaw Hamilton and Muriel May Hamilton

Portrait of Lance-Corporal Thomas Shaw Hamilton and his wife Muriel May Hamilton

Thomas Hamilton was born in Dunedin on 4 October 1880 to Scottish parents, later moving to Gisborne, where he found work as a labourer. On 31 October 1912, Thomas married Muriel Grant, and the couple subsequently had two children - Edna Jean, born 1915, and Charles Thomas, born 1918.

Old enough to serve in the South African (Second Boer) War, he enlisted as a private in the 10th Contingent and set off from Poverty Bay in April 1902, just week's before the war's end. Following his return, he was awarded service medals - the Queen's South Africa War Medal and the Kng's South Africa War Medal - and he is wearing their ribbons in this photograph.

In 1918, Thomas, now thirty-seven years old and working as a slaughterman and fencer in Gisborne, donned a uniform once more. He entered Featherston Camp in August 1918 and joined the 48th Reinforcements as a lance corporal. He did not, however, see any action. Thomas was demobilised during his training in December 1918 following the Armistice.

In 1930, Murial divorced Thomas on the grounds of desertion. Thomas died in Gisborne on 27 November 1953.