Ernest John Hawkins

Story:
Ernest John Hawkins was born in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, during 1888 the son of John Hawkins and Emily Hawkins (nee Whitehorn). By the 1901 Census the family had moved to 6 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Ernest enlisted and joined the Royal Lancaster Regiment as a Private (Service No. 20145). He served with the 2nd Battalion in France and Flanders from 3 Aug 1915 and in other theatres of war later. The 1918 Absent Voters list shows his address still as 6 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury. He was discharged on 21 Feb 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was further awarded a short lived pension due to contracting malaria whilst on service. He had married Alice Charlotte Dean in Wandsworth, London, SW18, during 1919 where the 1921 Census shows him visiting 3 Tonsley Hill, Wandsworth, and described as a Milk Retailer (out of work). Regrettably no more reliable information has been found beyond 1921.