Campbell River Genealogy Society
~ LOST FAMILIES FOUND ~
WILLIAM FRANK HAWKINS
Service Personnel Information 1914–1918
| Attestation Paper | |
| Service/Regimental Number: | 103366 |
| Present Address: | Cortez Isle, B.C. |
| Birthplace: | Oxford, England |
| Date of Birth: | 18 September 1885 |
| Next of Kin: | Mrs. Hawkins (Mother) |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Trade or Calling: | Printer |
| Previous Service in a Military Force: | None |
| Date of Enlistment: | 5 January 1916 |
| City and Province of Enlistment: | Vancouver |
| Digitized Personnel Record: | Library and Archives Record Link |
| Description on Enlistment | |
| Height: | 5 ft 4 1/2 ins |
| Chest: | 35 ins |
| Complexion: | Dark |
| Colour of Eyes: | Grey |
| Colour of Hair: | Brown |
| Religion: | Church of England |
| Considered Fit for Duty by: | W.L. Bain, Capt. CAMC, Medical Officer |
Military Service Record 1914–1918
| Force: | Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force |
| Unit (battalion or company): | 102nd Battalion |
| Division: | Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) |
| Rank: | Private |
| Honours and Awards: | |
| Photograph: | Not currently available |
| Date of Death: | 10 June 1917 |
| Age (at death): | 30 |
| Country of Burial: | France |
| Cemetery: | Villers Station Cemetery |
| Grave Reference: | X. C. 4. |
| Location: | Villers-au-Bois is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 11 kilometres north-west of Arras. The Villers Station Cemetery is about 2 kilometres north-west of the village. |
| Book of Remembrance: | WILLIAM FRANK HAWKINS’ name can be found on page 253 of the 1917 First World War Book of Remembrance |
His Story
William Hawkins was born in Oxford, England, on 18 September 1885. His parents were Arthur Hawkins and Mary Pavier (m. 1868). His paternal forebears were gardeners. Mary had a son, Frederick George Pavier (b. 1866), who was adopted by Arthur. Arthur and Mary had seven children – John (b. 1869), Sarah (b. 1871), James (b. 1873), Leonard (b. 1880), Ada (b. 1884), William and Thomas (b. 1889). In c1891 the family was living in Summertown, Oxfordshire; in c1901, only Ada, William and Thomas were still at home. William was working at a printing press. William and Thomas came to Canada in June 1907 on the Allan Line ship, the Ionian. They were both listed as labourers. In C1911 William and Thomas were with their half-brother, Frederick and his family on Cortes.
William attested on 5 January 1916 in Vancouver, B.C. with the 67th Battalion. At the time he had been living on Cortes. He was in Halifax first – perhaps training as a machine gunner. He went overseas in April 1916 on the S.S. Olympia. In France, he was first attached to the 176th in January 1917; then taken on strength with the 102nd Battalion in May 1917. Three others of our Cenotaph men were also in this battalion. He died on 10 June 1917. The War Diary for the day reads: “8:30 am Our men could not reach the Hun with hand grenades, but covered their own retirement by rifle fire and rifle grenades and our Stokes guns threw 20 rounds into the enemy, causing heavy casualties. 10:00 am Situation normal. The Brigadier extended his congratulations on the morning’s raid. After dark the communication trench from the Electric to the CALLOUS Trench was completed. Salvage collected and the area cleaned up. Casualties: 3 OR killed and 8 Other Ranks wounded.” He is buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Family Bits: Frederick and family were in Vancouver in C1901 before he moved north. Frederick’s younger son, Herbert, later married the widow of George Munro (also listed on the Campbell River Cenotaph).