Name
Frederick J Hawkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14708
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALBERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
II. A. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin War Memorial,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
His home was 8, Sunnyside, Hitchin and he was an only son and was unmarried. His father, at the age of 51, also joined up but at the time of Fred's death was working for shipbuilders at Stockton-on-Tees.
Before joining up Frederick was employed in the Surveyors Department of Hitchin Urban District Council. Born and residing in Hitchin, he had enlisted there by September 1914.
Wartime Service
Although partially deaf, Frederick was sent to France at the end of 1915 as a battalion cook - though this did not prevent him from being put into the firing line on occasions. He had been allocated the Regimental Number 14708 and posted to the 2nd Battalion which was in the 54th Brigade of the 18th Division of III Corps in the 4th Army. He was wounded on two occasions, the first time through both shoulders and the second time from a bayonet wound to his head. He was finally killed in action by shellfire.
His death was on the day following a successful attack by a Company of the 2nd Bedfords on a stronghold called Shamrock Hill east of Albert.
He was buried in Grave A2 of the Albert Communal Cemetery Extension II.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
