Name
William Edward Hawkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/12/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
241169
South Staffordshire Regiment
2nd/6th
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
III. F. 10
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, St John's Church Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
William Edward was born in 1878 in Guisborough, Yorkshire to William Hawkins and Fanny (nee Sygrove).
On the 1881 Census the family were living at Villas Breadcoft, Harpenden and on the 1891 Census William was an errand boy and the family were living at Harpenden Common. He married Elizabeth Squires in Nov 1897. On the 1911 Census he was living with his family of 4 sons and 1 daughter at 57 Portland Place , St Albans.
He was living in St Albans when he enlisted in Harpenden.
Wartime Service
William volunteered in Jun 1915 as Private 241169 in South Staffordshire Regiment. He went to France with 2/6th Battalion in Feb 1917.
He was severely gassed in action, possibly at Bourlon Wood near Cambrai and died of gas poisoning on 8 December 1917.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of 10 and arrears of £11 1s 10d paid to his widow Elizabeth
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
