Name
Frederick George Hawkins
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/09/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
63419
Suffolk Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 40 to 41 and 162 to 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor, Not on the Wigginton memorials, Metropolitan Police Force Book of Remembrance 1914-1918, Westminster Abbey
Pre War
Frederick George Hawkins was born in 1893 in Wigginton, nr Tring, Herts, the son and eldest child of George and Elizabeth Hawkins. His only sibling, sister Aves Mary, was born two years later.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at the Herdsman's Cottage, 68 London Road, Boxmoor, close to the railway station when his father was working as a Herdsman for the "Trustees of Moor". [This was the Box Moor Trust. set up in 1809 with 12 elected Trustees to hold and protect the grazing land on behalf of the communities of Hemel Hempstead and Bovingdon with the assistance of a paid Herdsman.]
By the 1911 Census they had moved to 24 St John's Road, Boxmoor and Frederick was working as an Envelope Cutter for John Dickinson & Co in Apsley Mills. His father was listed as Invalid, Farm Bailiff.
He left Dickinsons and joined the Metropolitan Police on 25 May 1914, with warrant number 103908 and collar number 984S. He was posted to 'S' Division based in Hampstead and served with the Police until he enlisted in 1916.
His father died in 1915, aged 51 and his mother later lived at 24 St John's Wood Road, Boxmoor, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Whitehall in July 1916 and after basic training with the 3rd Reserve Battalion, Norfolk Regiment at Felixstowe, was sent overseas later in the year. He was then posted to serve with the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (reg. no. 27265) and with other newly arrived recruits, was sent to the Brigade Training Depot for training in battlefield conditions.
By the end of February he was in action on the frontline and promoted to Sergeant. He was later transferred again to the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment (reg. no. 41962) and again in June 1918 to the 12th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. when the rebuilt battalion returned to France and required experienced officers, NCOs and soldiers. Frederick was responsible for training soldiers during July and August.
They were back on the frontline and fought in the 5th Battle of Ypres with the 12th Suffolk Regiment supporting the main attack on 28 September 1918, which was eventually successful, however Frederick was killed in action at 6.00 am, very early into the battle.
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £12 10s and pay owing of £3 17s 2d. She also received a pension of 5 shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com,, www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage.org.uk
