| Name | William “Billy” Eric Hawkins |
| Address – 191 1 Census | 7 Chilcompton Road, Midsomer Norton then 29 Redfield Road, Midsomer Norton then 124 High Street, Midsomer Norton |
| Died | 4.10.1917 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Age at death | 25 |
| War Graves Commemoration | Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Roll No | 204089 |
Prior to the War he joined the local Territorial Army and when he joined his first regiment he was sent to Bombay, India where his regiment were tasked to take over the garrison duties. He came home from his service in 1916 and was then sent to the front and died on the Somme. His body was never identified and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
WW1/28 WILLIAM HAWKINS
William was born in Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire but was living at 124 High Street, Midsomer Norton. The 1911 census Shows him there as a boarder with Emily Chivers, who was a widow
William was a booking clerk and worked for W. J. Taylor & Sons, who were timber merchants at Steam Mills. He played cricket and is recorded too as being a member of Miss Waugh’s Bible Class in the town.
Initially, William went to India with the Territorials (1st/4th Somerset Light Infantry), returning for service leave in 1916 & spending some time in Winchester & Boscombe before going to France, in a draft, with the 8th Somersets. There Private 204089 Hawkins was promoted rapidly to Sergeant.
The 8th Somersets took part in the Battle of Arras in April 1917 and then moved to the south of the Ypres Salient. They were involved in a diversionary attack near Hollebeke trom 31st July into August.
On October 4th it was the turn of the 8th Somersets, together with the 8th Lincolns to be the attacking force, supported by other troops. They attacked just south of the Menin Road but the British barrage was too weak & fell beyond the German front line. When the British attacked they advanced into murderous fire which they eventually overcame, only to succumb to heavy machine gun fire from their right. Sgt Hawkins was killed by a shell when he was sitting in a shell hole with two colleagues. They were buried but unharmed.
William’s body was never identified & he is remembered on the Tyne cot Memorial along with 34947 others.
As well as the war memorial, he is remembered on a plaque in the cricket club’s pavilion at Withies Lane, along with ten others from that club who died in that war.
Three of his brothers also fought in the war and they survived although one was badly wounded.
Footnote. Most of the above information has been copied from William Blanning’s book in the Company of Heroes. This is a tremendous reference book that covers the progress or the Great war and of local Somerset servicemen within a ten-mile radius of Midsomer Norton & Radstock. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in this subject. Please contact Fosseway Press in Radstock for details.
