Deans, H (Hamilton)
Deans, H (Hamilton)
Private Hamilton Deans was the son of Robert and Grace Deans, of 3, Cuthbert St., Waterside, Londonderry. He served with the 10th Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Hamilton Dean’s war began when he originally landed in Boulogne,[1] France on the 6th of October 1915 at 01:30 along with the 10th Inniskilling Fusiliers. There were 1029 men, all ranks.
At 14.00 they went on a route march, with band from Boulogne, arriving at 10.00 the following day at Gare Central station[2] where they entrained and then travelled to Coisy,[3] where they were billeted. At this point they started training and improving where they slept. Soon they were on the move again. Training continued, and they were eventually attached to other battalions at Hebuterne[4] to help them gain some experience in trench warfare.
Training continued, and the battalion marched from area to area. When the time came to celebrate the “Closing of the Gates of Londonderry (December 1668),” the battalion still had no casualties or real front-line experience.
During March, they went to the trenches at Thiepval Woods[5] in the Somme area where they relieved the 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and started receiving their first casualties. This continued into April when Private Deans passed away. He was one of the first soldiers of the 10th Inniskillings to die, although he would be far from the last. He unfortunately died in Netley Hospital near Southampton from meningitis which he had contracted in the trenches.
Hamilton was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals.
Date of Death: 12/04/1916 (Aged 19)
Service: Private, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 10th Battalion.
Service Number: 15454
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery
[1] Boulogne or Boulogne-sur-Mer is a coastal town in northwest France.
[2] Gare Central station is around 16 miles south of Boulogne.
[3] Coisy is around 60 miles, southeast of Gare Central station.
[4] Hebuterne is an area in France around 20 miles northeast of Coisy.
[5] Thiepval Woods is around 6 miles south of Hebuterne.
