Name
Herbert Edward Bitchens Hawkins
6 February 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/11/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
201227
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GAZA WAR CEMETERY
XXII. A. 2.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley, St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End
Pre War
Herbert Edward Bichens Hawkins was born on 6 February 1896 in Finsbury Barracks, City Road, London, the son of Sgt Major Edward Charles Hawkins of the 6th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and Henrietta Sarah Hawkins (nee Bichens). He was baptised on 24 April 1896 at St Luke Old Street, Finsbury. He was one of eight children, although three died in childhood.
On the 1901 Census the family were listed as living in the Finsbury Barracks with their five children. His father was a professional soldier who had enlisted with the Grenadier Guards in 1878, later transferring to the 6th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers with which he served for 26 years. When his father retired from the army he moved to Nash Mills, nr Hemel Hempstead, becoming landlord of the Three Tuns public house on Belswains Lane and stayed there until 1912.
Herbert left school in 1909 and started work with paper manufacturer, John Dickinson & Co Ltd in Apsley Mills, where his brother Robert was already working. He initially trained as a Book Binder before moving to the Card Department where he was working at the outbreak of war.
He gave his address as 109 Ebberns Road, Hemel Hempstead, on enlistment, but was recorded as born Finsbury, Middlesex. and living in Apsley End, when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford in February 1915 and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, being posted to the 5th Battalion for training at Bury St Edmunds. The 5th Battalion was re-designated the 1st/5th Battalion and initially carried out Home Defence duties in East Anglia.
The Battalion left Devonport on 26 July 1915 and, after a brief stop-over in Egypt, arrived at Gallipoli, where Herbert served from 10 August to 4 December. After suffering heavy losses, the Battalion returned to Egypt and arrived at Mena Camp in Cairo on 12 February 1915, having been promoted to Lance Corporal and Corporal soon after.
The Battalion spent the following year guarding the Suez Canal, and then went on to Gaza in March 1917. He saw his first serious action at the First Battle of Gaza on 26 March, followed by the Second Battle of Gaza a month later, where the 1st/5th Battalion suffered more than 40 men, killed, wounded or missing. Herbert survived the battles and the raid on Umbrella Hill in July.
On 2 November 1917 the Battalion took part in a dawn attack on the village of Sheik Hasan on the seaward side of the town of Gaza. It was successful, taking most of its objectives and capturing 182 prisoners, however there was heavy shellfire for the rest of that day and on the day following. By this time, Herbert had been promoted to Acting Sergeant but sadly he was killed in action on 3 November 1917, age 21.
He is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine (including Gaza).
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £14 and pay owing of £14 2s 4d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelatwar.org, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com. www.wartimememoriesproject.com
