Unknown Second World War Lanarkshire soldier named following new research

The military party at the graveside (Photo: Crown Copyright).

The previously unidentified grave of a Scottish soldier who gave his life in World War 2 has been identified in Sicily 83 years after his death.

The grave of Corporal Gilbert Nay Hamilton, 7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders was rededicated in a ceremony organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) at CWGC Catania War Cemetery, Sicily on 12 May 2026. He had died near Gerbini, Sicily, on 21 July 1943. 

The service was supported by serving soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

His grave was identified thanks to extensive research from records and evidence submitted to the CWGC and JCCC by a relative of Corporal Hamilton.

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.”

The Bugler sounds Last Post  (Photo: Crown Copyright), Cpl Gilbert Nay Hamilton, (Photo: courtesy of the family).

Gilbert Nay Hamilton 18 February 1921 – 21 July 1943

Gilbert was born in Lanarkshire in 1921, the youngest of the 7 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 – in fact all of the families who lived on Allanton Rows with the Hamiltons were employees of the colliery in one way or another.

Gilbert joined the Army on 15 January 1942, signing for service with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders under service number 2993180. His service record tells us he was a little over 5’10” 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. 

Gilbert received a hasty burial and, though a cross was erected showing his rank and regiment, all details of his name were lost. 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.

With his final resting place identified, Gilbert's rededicated grave is now marked with a newly inscribed headstone by the CWGC making a permanent and personal memorial to his sacrifice in Sicily.

CWGC Commemorations Case Officer Dr. Daniel Seaton 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.”