Jul 20, 1891

Born in Millwall, London, England to Albert and Ellen (nee Bryan) Hawkins

Nov 4, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59440 (temporary number 530)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mr. Albert Hawkins, father, 44 Hoy St., Canning Town, London, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 2 years in the Royal Field Artillery, Woolwich, England

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “E” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

Mar 9, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s pay for an unrecorded offence

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 2, 1915

Posted to the Depot Company

Sep 14, 1915

The 21^st Battalion embarked for France while Private Hawkins remained in England.  There is no reason recorded in the file for his failure to proceed to France, however, it is noted below that he was suffering from both hearing and foot problems.

Sep 25, 1915

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Dec 11, 1915

Forfeited 2 day’s pay for being absent

Jan 3, 1916

Admitted to the Westcliffe Eye and Ear Hospital, Folkestone, with a diagnosis that reads Left Otitis Media, a middle ear infection.  On admission it was noted that his left ear drum was perforated

Jan 13, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Feb 23, 1916

Married to Annie Priscilla Oxley in Canning Town, London, England

Mar 8, 1916

Medical Board at Shorncliffe notes

Ø  Patient suffers from Hammer Toe causing irritation when marching

Ø  Board recommends surgery although there is record in his file that surgery was performed

Placed on light duties for 10 weeks

Mar 17, 1916

Pay restricted for being absent

Mar 25, 1916

Transferred to the CAVC (Canadian Army Veterinary Corps) and posted to the No. 2 Canadian Veterinary Hospital

Jun 18, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Canadian Veterinary Hospital

Jun 19, 1916

Joined the No. 1 Canadian Veterinary Hospital in Havre, France

Nov 25, 1916

Admitted to the No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Havre with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

Dec 11, 1916

Transferred to the No. 4 Convalescent Depot

Dec 15, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Dec 18, 1916

Admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined).  This was later changed to read Chronic Bronchitis

Dec 19, 1916

Transferred to the No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Havre

Dec 27, 1916

Transferred to the No. 4 Convalescent Depot

Jan 3, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Oct 11, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Oct 23, 1917

Rejoined from leave

Nov 28, 1917

Admitted to the No. 2 General Hospital in Havre with a diagnosis that reads Mumps

Dec 28, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Mar 7, 1918

Medical classification changed to B2 meaning he was fit for non-combat duty in England or France

Sep 7, 1918

Medical classification changed to A meaning he was fit for full duty

Oct 4, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Oct 18, 1918

Declared to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Oct 20, 1918

Admitted to the Mile End Military Hospital, Bancroft Road, London with a diagnosis that reads Influenza complicated by Pleura Pneumonia

Transferred to the General Depot on being admitted to hospital while on leave

Dec 7, 1918

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park

Dec 9, 1918

Court of Inquiry declares him to be a Deserter as of October 18, 1918 and he was SOS (Struck Off Strength)

It appears that the message of his admission to hospital did not reach his unit in a timely manner and this order was later cancelled

Dec 23, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital care and granted sick leave until January 2, 1919 with instructions to report to the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps Depot in Witley on completion of leave

Jan 30, 1919

Attached to the 1^st CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Feb 21, 1919

Embarked the SS Melita in Liverpool

Mar 2, 1919

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario and Taken On Strength the Casualty Company at the Exhibition Camp

Mar 4, 1919

Granted leave until March 18, 1919

Mar 26, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 237289

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Aylmer St., Peterborough, Ontario

Following his discharge, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 143 Lansdowne St., Peterborough, Ontario

The 1921 Canadian Census shows him living in Peterborough, Ontario with his wife Annie and 2 children

A report in the battalion’s Communiqué in January 1938 stated that he was a patient in the Christie Street Hospital in Toronto and engaged in farming near Barrie, Ontario

Dec 13, 1970

Alfred Hawkins died while a patient of the Civic Hospital in Peterborough, Ontario