An unknown British soldier who was killed in Sicily during the Second World War has been identified nearly 83 years after his death.
Corporal Gilbert Nay Hamilton, from Lanarkshire, died near Gerbini, Italy, on July 21, 1943 while serving with the 7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
The 22-year-old received a hasty burial and, though a cross was erected showing his rank and regiment, all details of his identity were subsequently lost.
READ MORE: Cancer influencer who ‘married herself’ to fulfil dream of being a bride dies aged 29
In March 1944, the remains of an unidentified Corporal of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders were exhumed from a field grave near Gerbini and moved to the Catania War Cemetery.
A named identification proved impossible and so the man was buried as an unknown corporal.
He has finally been identified thanks to research by his great-grand-nephew and his grave has been rededicated in his name with a newly inscribed headstone making a permanent and personal memorial to his sacrifice.
The rededication was organised by the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, JCCC – also known as the war detectives – who also confirmed the accuracy of the researcher’s findings.
JCCC caseworker Alexia Clark said: “This case was unusual in that the researcher who originally produced evidence suggesting where Cpl Hamilton was buried is actually his great-grand-nephew.
“A lot of time and effort has gone into discovering Gilbert’s story, which has ultimately led us to recognise his final resting place.
“Today, we have finally been able to restore Gilbert’s name to him and his military family have been here to honour his sacrifice.
“It has been a privilege for me to have contributed to this case and to have organised the service of rededication today.”
Gilbert joined the Army on 15 January 1942, signing for service with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders under service number 2993180.
His service record revealed he was a little over 5ft 10ins tall, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair.
After training he was sent to join the war in the Middle East in June 1942.
He soon made the rank of Corporal, transferred to the North Africa campaign, and later took part in the invasion of Sicily, where he was killed in action during the Battle for Gerbini in July 1943.
Only now that all the records and evidence have been drawn together and considered in their entirety have the war detectives been able to conclusively confirm Gilbert’s resting place in line with the researcher’s findings.
The service was supported by serving soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The headstone was replaced by CWGC, as reported by Need To Know.
Dr Daniel Seaton, commemorations case officer at the CWGC, said: “I am very thankful to Corporal Hamilton’s relative, who proposed the case for his identification to the Commission for further research.
“It is very gratifying to see the case now having reached a successful conclusion, meaning that we are able to mark Gilbert’s final resting place with a CWGC headstone bearing his name and details.”
Gilbert was born in Lanarkshire in 1921, the youngest of the seven children of William and Jeanie.
He had two older brothers – William and Robert – and four sisters – Agnes, Catherine, Elizabeth and Annie.
When Gilbert was born, his father was working as a colliery repairer for William Barr & Sons Ltd who were a major employer at the time.
READ MORE: Idiot tourist fined £230 after crashing into PARKED taxi on scooter
