CHARLES J. A. HAMILTON BRIG. GENERAL (RETIRED), MBE, CD

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CHARLES J. A. HAMILTON BRIG. GENERAL (RETIRED), MBE, CD Charlie Hamilton was buried with full military honours in Elgin, Ontario on November 28, 2011. He died in Ottawa General Hospital following a brief illness. He was 90 years old. He was predeceased by his wife, Anna Fleming of Minnedosa and his parents, James and Jane Hamilton of Brandon. Charlie was born in Brookdale, Manitoba in 1921 and at the age of 20, joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in Winnipeg. He earned his commission in March 1942 and was sent to England to prepare for the invasion of Italy. His troopship (The City of Venice) was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea on July 4, 1943 just off the coast of Gibraltar. After coming ashore in North Africa, Charlie rejoined his mortar platoon and eventually joined the invasion on September 3, 1943. He fought with the First Canadian Division throughout Italy and then up into northwest Europe where he saw the war end in 1945. Charlie returned to Canada and married Anna Fleming in Minnedosa, Manitoba and the two embarked on a 58 year adventure that included postings in Kingston, Ontario, Edmonton, Alberta, and Whitehorse, Yukon. In 1950 he was appointed the Senior Staff Officer of the 25th Canadian Light Infantry Brigade in Petawawa, Ontario, where he trained soldiers for duty in Korea. From 1950 to 1952, Charlie served with the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Kapyong, Korea. He was awarded Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his outstanding service. Returning to Canada, Charlie was posted to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and later, Washington, DC with the US Army Research and Development Staff at the Pentagon. Charlie moved to the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry in Calgary and was later appointed to command the 2nd Brigade of the P.P.C.L.I. in Edmonton. He served on the Directing Staff at the Canadian Staff College in Kingston from 1964 to 1967, and was promoted to Colonel and appointed Director of Studies and Deputy Commandant in 1967. Charlie attended the Imperial Defence College in London, England from 1967 to 1968. In 1968 he was promoted to Brigadier-General and served as Canada's Senior Military Observer in Nigeria during their civil war. From 1969 to 1970 he commanded the 3rd Armoured Brigade in Gagetown, NB, and later commanded the 1st Canadian Light Infantry Brigade in Calgary, Alberta. Charlie completed his working life with a 10 year career with Great West Life Assurance Company in Winnipeg. During this time, he was appointed an Honorary Citizen of Brandon, Manitoba, served on the Board of Governors at the University of Manitoba, the executive panel of the Corps of Commissionaires, and was Chairman of the Manitoba Army Cadet League. Upon retiring in 1983, Charlie and Anna moved to Ontario, where they divided their time between their retirement home at Chaffey's Lock and their winter home in Port Charlotte, Florida. They enjoyed a busy social life as well as keeping tabs on their five sons and their families. Anna passed away in 2003 and in 2007 Charlie married Kay Beaumont. They moved to Greely, Ontario in 2009, where they resided until Charlie's passing in November, 2011. Charlie is survived by his wife Kay, sons Jim (Shelley), Jack (Jennifer), Rick (Donna), Chuck (Danielle), and Pat (Josee) as well as 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He has left an incredible legacy of family, pride in the Canadian Armed Forces, and pride in Canada. We will miss him.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 10, 2011