Capt. John Bawtree HAWKINS JP CA (died 30 August 1916)

John Bawtree Hawkins was born 1868 and died from pneumonia 30 August 1916 whilst serving in France during WW1

Peter Hill, Ian Valentine and John Stewart

The late Capt John Bawtree Hawkins
A picture of K Company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Essex Regiment in 1906 who were based in Wivenhoe
Etaples Military Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

He was born in 1868 at Colchester, son of Charles Henry & Sarah Jane Hawkins, and who came to live at Ballast Quay House. Husband of Georgina Mabel Hawkins of 3, Priary Street,  Keynsham, Somerset.  Served at 15th Infantry Base Depot, then 18th Infantry Base Depot, France.  Died 30 Aug 1916, aged 47 from pneumonia following influenza in France, buried Part 4 Etaples Military Cemetery, Nord Pas-de-Calais.

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Captain John Bawtree Hawkins was the son of Charles. H. and Mrs  S. J. Hawkins, of Colchester.  He was serving as a Captain and Adjutant in the 18th Infantry Base Depot, Special List, when he died, aged 47, on 30 August 1916 from pneumonia following influenza. His wife, G. Mabel Hawkins, afterwards moved to Keynsham in Somerset.

His father, Charles H Hawkins was Mayor of Colchester four times during the 45 years he was elected to serve as a Councillor for the Borough Council in the years 1844-89. He was a leader of the of the Colchester Conservative Party. Charles was the son of William, also a council member, son-in-law of John Bawtree, a prominent citizen, and younger brother and business partner of William Warwick Hawkins M.P. So it was no surprise that John Hawkins grew up to be a key Conservative figure in the Harwich Conservative Association, which Wivenhoe came under. He was elected as a County Councillor in 1901.

John Hawkins was 30 when he settled in Wivenhoe buying Ballast Quay House and ran the adjacent Ballast Quay Farm.  He founded and commanded a volunteer regiment in Wivenhoe, K Company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion Essex Regiment, which was formed on the 6th March 1900 after a public meeting.

He was a prominent resident in Wivenhoe and took a leading role in several societies. He was also a JP and became a County Councillor.

His name is inscribed on the Wivenhoe War Memorial, listed in the memorial in Colchester Town Hall and on the Memorial Cross in the grounds of St Botolphs Priory.  He is buried in the Military Cemetery at Etaples in France.

His wife, Mabel, left Wivenhoe after his death and moved back to her native Somerset and Ballast Quay was sold.

Note:  John Hawkin’s daughter, Helen, also volunteered for service in WW1 as a VAD nurse. Read about her story here

For Doug Rowe’s account of the life and death of Capt. John Hawkins – click here

This page was added on 03/03/2015.

Comments about this page

  • I can forward you more detailed information re HAWKINS if you require it.

    By Doug Rowe (29/11/2016)
  • Dear Doug. Thanks very much for sending me this long pdf which includes many pictures and that provides a much more vivid account of Captain Hawkins. See the link to it.
    Peter
    Peter Hill, Chairman, Wivenhoe History Group. Email: peter@toadhall2.co.uk tel: 01206 823073

    By Peter Hill (29/11/2016)

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