Name
Thomas Frederick Hawkins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/01/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/3219
The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
B Coy. 7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NORFOLK CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT
I. A. 30.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Born in Fulham, Middlesex in 1895 and baptised on 6 January 1895 at St Andrew Church in Fulham, Thomas Frederick Hawkins was the son of William and Caroline (née Evans) Hawkins from Bushey. His parents were married on 25 April 1886 in Bushey.
At the 1891 Census, his parents were living at 58, Rylston Road, Fulham with two children; 2-year old James A and 3-month old William.
By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 34, Herkomer Road, Bushey. William was 35 years old and working as a general labourer and he and Caroline now had six children; James A, William, Edith Rose, Thomas F, Edward J and Albert D. The ages given for William and Caroline are 35 and 34, whilst those for the children are 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 respectively. The birthplace for William, Caroline and Albert is Bushey, whist that for the other children is Middlesex, London.
At the 1911 Census, the family were still in Bushey but had moved to 20 Merry Hill Mount. William was still working as a general labourer and Thomas, now sixteen years old, was working as a ‘house boy (domestic)’. William and Caroline now have ten children; James Augustus, William, Edith Rose, Albert David, Edward John, Ernest Henry, Grace Caroline, Rosina May, George Sidney and the youngest, Daisy Isabel. Their ages are 22, 20, 18, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 5 months respectively.
Their eldest child, Violet Sarah, was also included on the form but was then crossed through as she had died in childhood. She would have been 23 years old.
Wartime Service
Thomas joined up for war service as Private 17993 with the 13th Hussars, but was then transferred as Private G/3219 in the 7th Battalion of the Royal West Surrey Regiment. He served in France and Flanders and was killed in action, aged 21, on 16 January 1916.
[Note: The entry for Thomas in the Soldiers Died in the Great War database gives his birthplace as Colchester and his place of enlistment into the 13th Hussars as Co. Chester. The reason for this inconsistency is not known, but the address for his mother on his pension card is consistent with the address in the 1911 Census record. As a ‘domestic house boy’, it is quite possible he was working in the Chester area at time of enlistment.]
He is remembered with honour at Norfolk Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt in France, grave memorial ref 1A30. He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Parish Church.
The following entry about his death was included in the St James’ Parish Magazine:
Thomas Hawkins was a member of the Sunday School, the Guild and the Boys’ Club, and was much respected and loved by all who knew him. He was killed while digging a trench on Sunday 16 January 1916.
His pension record card gives his mother Caroline, living at 20 Merry Hill Mount, as his dependant and additionally records that his brother, Private 141091 Arthur David Hawkins, had also died in the war.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
