Labour Australia

Another one of the 12 I.W.W. men who was framed-up during the war, Jack Hamilton, has passed away. His remains were cremated at Woronora today.

The late comrade was given a Red funeral by a large number of mourners. M. Thomas of St. George District of the C.P. of A. gave the funeral address.

Hamilton and his comrades served several years of the savage sentences passed against them.

They were released only after a long campaign waged in their support by the labor movement and the inquiry set up by the Storey government.

Hamilton held several official positions in the I.W.W. in its heyday, and was a real veteran of the labor movement.

He was noted for his outstanding sincerity, and was indeed a lovable character who had the affection of all who knew him.

Undoubtedly the strain on his constitution caused by the years of unjust imprisonment undermined his health.

A few years ago he became partially blind and was obliged to live very quietly.

His death removes one of the pioneers of the I.W.W., which made a valuable contribution to the Australian labor movement, and played a particularly prominent part in the defeat of conscription in the last war.

While not a member of the Communist Party, Hamilton's sympathies were always with the Party which has carried on and developed the work of the I.W.W., and was a great supporter of the Soviet Union.