Soldier Record

Private William Hawkins 241169 died on 8th December 1917 of wounds he is buried in Abbeville France

Private Hawkins was involved in the battle at Cambrai, Bourlon Wood with the 2nd/6th battalion South Staffords. He died of wounds on the 8th Dec. 1917. His Great Grandaughter was the first member of his family to visit his grave at Abbeville France in 1989 on a shool field trip. Since then it has been a regular part of our holidays in France to stop and pay our respects to him and all the other fallen heroes. We would dearly like to be able to fin d his war records but have drawn a blank to date. He volounteered in June 1915 according to the National Roll of the Great War. He left behind a wife, who was killed in a road accident in 1920, and six children. His eldest son William was also involved in the war, he was a bombardier R.F.A. after servin g at various stations he was drafted to Mesopotamia in 1917 demobilized in 1919. Father and son both volounteered in 1915, William senior in June and son in April. They are listed together on the National Roll how proud we are of them both prepared to give their lives for others, they will never be forgotton. William senior now has five Great Great grandchildren via one of his son s and they will be told the story of their brave Great Great Grandad.