William Anthony Hamilton

William Anthony Hamilton died whilst working on the rebuilding of 10 Downing Street in Westminster.

An open verdict was returned after his cause of death could not be determined.

He had lived in Stanlaka Road in Shepherd's Bush and had been a carpenter.

He collapsed at work just after clocking on and was taken to Westminster Hospital but was found to be dead on arrival.

His inquest heard that a most detailed examination of his body had been made but that nothing was revealed that could have caused his death. The only abnormality that could be found was that he had some inflammation in the bronchial tract, but there was no sign of pneumonia and it was not thought that he could have had a severe influenza infection because there was no evidence of that.

It was also heard that there was a story that something had fallen on his head some time before, but the post mortem found no abnormality whatsoever. The pathologist said that he could exclude any form of injury.

Following further examination, a pathologist said that he had been unable to find any satisfactory demonstrable cause of death. He said that examinations had been made to find a virus infection related to influenza, and that investigations had been made by Scotland Yard to trace poison, but they had proved negative.

He added that he was forced to the conclusion that his death, which usually fell into the 18 to 30 years of age group, had no demonstrable cause. He added that he had not seen one before in about 500 to 600 autopsies.

He added that he felt that his death must have been related to some abnormal pace-making of the heart. He said that there was no sign of injury whatever, but that hurrying to work to clock in might have precipitated his death.

William Hamilton's brother said that William Hamilton was married and had come to the United Kingdom from New Zealand in December 1960 and had intended to go back to New Zealand one day. He said that about three months earlier a hammer fell on his head and he was treated at St George's Hospital and had some stitches inserted, but didn't stop work.

A labourer who lived in Henshaw Street, Walworth, said that whilst waiting to be directed by a foreman to work at Downing Street on 22 January 1962, he saw William Hamilton clock in at the time office after which he saw him stiffen and fall backwards.

He said that a crowd then went to his aid.

He said that no one pushed or touched him prior to his falling and that it all happened very quickly.

He said that it was just about two minutes after 8am and that he thought that William Hamilton had been hurrying to clock in.

His inquest concluded that his cause of death was unascertainable and it was heard that the Coroner knew of only two such cases in 21,000 and that they happened in the 18 to 30 age group. The Coroner noted that there was no question that his death was anything other than natural, but that the difficulty was to give it a label. He said that it was a rarity, and recorded an open verdict.

10 Downing Street is noted for being the residence of the Prime Minister of England.