Sep 3, 1890

Born in Peterborough, Ontario John Alfred and Harriet (nee Richards) Hawkins

Mar 24, 1915

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59443 (temporary number 1296)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mr. John A. Hawkins, father, Hiawatha, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Steam Tractor Engineer

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Ø      Assigned to the Depot Company 

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

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 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Sep 15, 1916

During the battalion’s advance on the sugar refinery near Courcelette, Private Hawkins was killed and his body was never recovered from the battlefield.  As such, he is now honoured on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Vimy Ridge, France, for those who were killed in France and have no known grave.

Following the war the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Mr. John A. Hawkins, Hiawatha, Ontario 

The Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Harriet Hawkins at the same address