| Rank | Private, Lance Corporal |
| Service # | A4438 |
| Unit # | Kent Regiment |
| Resident | 18 Scane St., Chatham |
The son of John Albert Hammerton of Chatham, ON. (A veteran of the Great War 189301, 186th Bn.). Born in Chatham, ON. He enlisted in the RCR in June of 1940. Beside the Royal Canadian Regiment, Johnny would serve in the Highland Light Infantry, and the Perth Regt. He also served in the Kent Regt. and the RCA while he was training at Camp Borden.
Enlisted in the Royal Canadian Regiment in London in July 1940. He trained at Camp Borden and went overseas in May 1942 with the Hamilton Light Infantry.
In 1943 while serving in England then Corporal Hammerton met Christian FitzGordon from Birmingham. They had made plans to be married but the invasion of Italy cut that short in 1944. It was well in Italy that Johnny suffered his first ‘wounded in action’ on 24 May accoding to Johnny the Germans used an 88mm anti-tank gun, “They aimed at the tank and hit me instead.” He suffered a wound to his throat but he recovered and was well enough to rejoin his unit then in northern Europe.
Early in 1944 he was transferred to the Perth Regiment and saw service for a year in Italy. He was wounded slightly in the neck. Was transferred to the Western Front and promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Was gravely wounded and lost sight of both eyes. Spent four months in Hospital in England and five months at St. Dunstans.
On Easter Monday his his regiment was fighting on the outskirts of Arnhem. Leading a group of soldiers Cpl. Hammerton entered a farm house to hunt for snipers. “All hell broke loose and I woke up in Basingstoke Hospital” (England), is Johnny’s description of the blast that resulted when a booby-trap exploded and the events that followed
While in hospital expert doctors employed ‘plastic surgery’ to restore the young soldiers scarred face. The physical damage had been well repaired to a point the “it was impossible to tell that he suffered a scratch.” Howevr there was nothing to be done to repair his vision only time would tell.
On 18 August, 1945 Cpl. John A. Hammerton married Miss Christine FitzGordon, “the girl he left behind”. Four months later the couple reunited in Canada. John came back on the hospital ship the “Lady Nelson” and Christine aboard the S.S. Jamacia Producer” arriving in Chatham just three hours before her husband.
When John arrived in Canada he was accompanied by a blind soldiedr from Kitchener and a airman form Hamilton and when their train arrived in Toronto they were met by Captain red Woodcock who lost his sight at Dieppe in 1942 and Miss Verna Johnson of the Canadian Red cross who had taught the three returning men how to read Braille and make handicrafts while they rrecoved in England. Verna had arrived home in October “They saw me off there,” she said “so I had to meet them here.” John receive an enthusiastic welcome in Chatham from his wife and his family along with Mr. Goodman and Copeland of the Chatham reception committee welcoming the veteran home.
The couple settled in as guests of Johnny’s aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. James Troy of 77 Poplar St. in Chatham. Shortly after arriving John went shopping with Christine for a new coat, “the same coat in the England would have cost her eighteen clothing coupons” she reported She did admit that the weather in Chatham “is more than a bit cool”. So far she liked Canada very much.
Discharged February 15th, 1946.
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