HAWKES, William aka , William Hawkes IVES


No.235834, Driver, William HAWKES
Aged 32


5th Reserve Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Died of Illness in Cambridge, on Monday 19th November 1917


William Hawkes IVES was born in Haverhill (Risbridge Q2-1885 4A:585), son of William Hawkes and Eliza IVES (née BEAVIS or BEVIS).
It is not known why the family dropped the surname IVES at times in favour of HAWKES

1891 census...Aged 6, he was at 31 Duddery Road, Haverhill with his father Walter HAWKES [30] silk weaver born Linton; his mother Eliza [32] tailoress; sisters Lizzie [11], Rebecca [7], Dora [3] and Jennie [2]; brother Edward [9]. All except his father were born in Haverhill.

1901 census...Aged 16, an oil carter, he was still at 31 Duddery Road with his parents (mother now shirt machinist); sisters Lizzie (hair weaver), Rebecca (trousers machinist), Dora, Jennie, May [9], Hilda [8], Nora [6], Ada [4] and Ellen [2]. The new siblings also born in Haverhill. The family are now using the IVES surname

1911 census...Aged 26, a shop assistant (mantles) he was boarding at 154 Marylebone Road, London. At 11 Waveney Terrace, Haverhill were his parents and sister Rebecca and Dora (sewing machinists), Mary (button hole machinist), Nora (sewing machinist), Ada (warehouse hand) Ellen and Annie [7] born Haverhill. Eliza had borne 14 children but lost 2. The family are now using the IVES surname. It is likely that his mother died in 1912.


He died at No.1 Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge.

He first enlisted in Bury St Edmunds on 2nd February 1903, in the Suffolk Regiment. He gave his age as 18, a labourer born and living in Haverhill. 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm)tall, weighing 112 lbs (51 kg), chest 33.5" to 35" (85.1 to 88.9 cm), blue eyes, brown hair, Church of England.Next of kin, his father William HAWKES of 11 Waveney Terrace, Haverhill. He signed for 3 years in the colours and was posted to depot as No.6381, and on 26th February posted to the 1st Battalion. Posted to Reserves, with his consent,before completion of service on 10th March 1905.

He was mobilised on 5th August 1914 and embarked for France on 21st August,joining his unit, the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment on 6th September. He was admitted to hospital on 11th November (cause and duration not stated). From 15th to 19th February 1915 he was in hospital with bronchitis.
On 22nd April he was admitted to 8 Field Ambulance at La Clyyte with oedema in his legs. He managed to get leave to UK from 13th to 15th July 1915
At Hoograf on 26th August 1915 he was passed from No.8 to No.7 Field Ambulance with a septic hand. This was the result of an accident for which he was officially deemed not to have been responsible. He was passed onto the Casualty Clearing Station at Mont des Cats on 29th and eventually retuned to his unit on 7th September.
The entry for 18th December 1915 say he was attached to RF Corps ? at Clairmaris, (nr St Omer). Perhaps this was a transfer to the Royal Field Artillery , as this was the unit he was with on his headstone and other reports of his death. Sent to base at Rouen on 27th January 1916 for discharge, and came back to UK on 8th February 1916 and discharged on 22nd February 1916
Apparently his relatives failed to claim the clasp to his 1914 Star. From the dates we do know, he seems to have missed the fighting at Le Cateau, but would have been involved on the Aisne. Without the claim though, no clasp and therefore not officially an Old Contemptible. Unfortunately that was all that seems to have survived of his Army records, so we cannot say when he joined the RFA, nor why he was discharged. His death was caused by Toxic Jaundice. His CWGC headstone points to the fact that his death was due to or aggravated by military service.

Then the Western Front Association acquired the Pension Cards and put them on line. From William's pension card we found that he died of toxic jaundice and that his next of kin, his father, was William Ives Hawkes of 11 Waveney Terrace, Haverhill.


Here he is in his Suffolk Regiment uniform





William Hawkes is buried in Haverhill Cemetery, grave F:92
and commemorated in the Old Independent Church, Haverhill

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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