Pte. J.W. Hawkins, Edmonton Journal June 1917

Canadian Badge

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

The first son of Lancashire born farm labourer Alfred Hawkins and his wife Elizabeth (nee Barker), James William was born on 9th November 1879 whilst the family were living in Bedale, North Yorkshire, but aged one, and with the addition of Charles, they had moved to live in Tunstall Cottages, Wolsingham. By 1891 the family had moved to Red House Farm, Roddymoor, near Crook, and James, Charles and Henry were at school leaving 4-year-old Sarah, and 2 year old John at Home.

Ten years later they had returned to live in the West End of Wolsingham and Alfred and the three older boys were working at the local stone quarry, whilst Saran, John and 9-year-old Bertram remained at home. After the death of his father in 1901 James became head of the household and by 1911 he, his mother and two youngest brothers John and Bertie had moved to live in the High Street and he was working as a delver, or digger, at the quarry.

Two months after the census had been taken James was arriving in Canada having crossed the Atlantic on the SS Lake Champlain with the intention of making for Winnipeg and a life as a farmer. In 1913 he married Isabella Wallace in Strathcona, Alberta where they set up home on 106th Street and he found work as a city labourer, and was a deacon at Allandale Baptist Church. Their son Alfred was born two years later after they had moved to live in Edmonton.

On 10th February 1916 James William Hawkins enlisted as Private 624765 in the 151st Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force in Edmonton, and before he even left Canada in August he was accidently shot in the head whilst training at Sarcee Camp and was treated at the military hospital. In October he sailed with the Battalion aboard the SS California arriving in Liverpool on 13th, and a posting to the 11th Reserve Battalion at Shorncliffe Camp, Kent. Six weeks later he was posted to the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, part of the 6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division, and joined them at the Lorette Spur north west of Arras on 3rd December 1916.

Involved in the fighting at Vimy Ridge in April 1917, Private Hawkins was again wounded, but remained on duty. His third and final wound was on 26th May 1917 when he was killed instantly by shrapnel whilst in a support trench near Vimy.

His wife and child returned to live in Wallsend in 1919; she never remarried.

His name is included in a booklet on the names on the Wolsingham Cenotaph compiled by Morris Ward, which adds that his last known occupation was as a Delver in a Stone Quarry.

James William Hawkins is remembered in Wolsingham on W128.02 and W128.05

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
The CWGC entry for Private Hawkins