Canada. A Memorial Cross, 21St Infantry Battalion, Killed In Action Near Courcelette

George V (59441 PTE. J. HAWKINS). Naming is engraved. Light contact, on wide incorrect ribbon, near extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, soiling evident on the interior, lid sits slightly askew, case very fine.

Footnote: James Hawkins was born on July 3, 1882 in London, England, the son of James William Hawkins. He was a veteran of the South African War, serving with the Surrey Regiment and later immigrated to Canada. He was married to Margaret Hawkins, the couple having two children and settling in Kingston, Ontario. He was a five year resident of the city, when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (59441) with the 21st Infantry Battalion, on November 23, 1914 in Kingston, at the age of 32, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Mrs. J. Hawkins of 4th Bay, Battlefield, stating that he had ten years' previous service with the 3rd Battalion, Surrey Regiment, that he was married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Labourer. He was assigned to "C" Company, which was later re-organized into "B" Company. The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter of 1914-1915, with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries. The 21st Infantry Battalion was raised in Eastern Ontario and mobilized in Kingston, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 36, March 15, 1915. The Battalion sailed May 6, 1915 from Montreal, Quebec aboard the S.S. Metagama, with a strength of 42 officers and 1,057 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W. St. P. Hughes, arriving in Devonport, England on May 15th. Upon arrival in England, he proceeded to West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training. Private Hawkins forfeited three days' pay for being Absent Without Leave, from August 29 to September 1, 1915, then reported for duty. The 21st Infantry Battalion were called for service in the French theatre, embarking England aboard the St. Seiriol and disembarking in Boulogne, France on September 14, 1915, the battalion proceeding to St. Omer. Private Hawkins was admitted to No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance on January 13, 1916, with a case of "Constipation".

He was transferred for treatment the next day, to the Divisional Rest Station (DRS) in Mont des Cats, Godwaersvelde, France. After three days' treatment, he was discharged to duty on the 17th. Eight months later, Private Hawkins was in action on September 15, 1916, as a member of the 21st Infantry Battalion’s advance on the sugar refinery near Courcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme. He was initially reported "Missing from Base" and finally declared "Killed in Action", as his body was never recovered from the battlefield. 59441 Private James Hawkins, 21st Infantry Battalion died on September 15, 1916, at the age of 34. He is remembered with honour on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. At the base of the memorial, these words appear in French and in English: "TO THE VALOUR OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN MEMORY OF THEIR SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA." Inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial are the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as "'missing, presumed dead" in France. Private Hawkins is commemorated on page 100 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. He is also honoured in Kingston, Ontario on both the Memorial Wall and on the City Hall plaque. Private Hawkins had two brothers Killed in Action during the war, while his wife had one brother wounded in France. For his First World War service, Private Hawkins was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His medals, along with his Memorial Plaque, Scroll and Memorial Cross were forwarded to his widow, Mrs. Margaret Kennedy of New Westminster, British Columbia, his wife having remarried in July 1918, after his death. She was also paid a War Service Gratuity of $116 on September 1, 1920. A second Memorial Cross was issued to his mother, Mrs. Ellen Hawkins of Dockhead, Bermondsey, England.