South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 18 May 1915 in France | ~ | Alcester |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Local action on Ypres | September 1914 at Birmingham | ~ |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| Trenches at Ypres | ~ | |
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
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Joseph is listed as being killed in action on 6 Jul 1915. The very brief war diary entry details him by name along with Ernest Harris. The diary is transcribed in full below as is a report in the Stratford on Avon Herald on 16 Jul 1915 which carries a better account than the war diary: War DiaryYpres - 6th - Tues: Bttn remains in Ypres. Rfn Terry and Hawtin C Coy killed in carrying party and 6 wounded of whom Rfn Hodges and Harris subsequently died. END Stratford Herald ArticleTWO ALCESTER MEN KILLED - News has been received at Alcester that Riflemen Ernest Harris and Joseph Hawtin, both of the 8th battalion kings royal rifles have been killed in France. Both men lived at Alcester and volunteered soon after the beginning of the war. Rifleman Ernest Harris was a son of Mrs. Harris of Malt Mill Lane and before joining the army was employed by Mr. T. W. AVERILL, rope and twine manufacturer of Alcester, while Rifleman Joseph Hawtin who was engaged as a hook maker at Redditch was the only son of Mr. J. Hawtin of Bleachfield Street. In a letter to Mrs. Hawtin the Captain commanding the company expresses his regret and adds “he was one of a party carrying up stores to the trenches. A shell exploded close to him and he was instantly killed. I think it will be a consolation to you to know that he died bravely doing his duty for king and country. He was buried nearby where he fell. I should like to add that he had been in my company since he enlisted and had always been a good soldier and Rifleman. He never gave me any trouble at all, and I deeply regret his loss. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1897 at Alcester | 14 Mar 1900 |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Joseph and Annie Elizabeth Hawtin | Evesham Street, Alcester |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1897 - Malt Mill Lane, Alcester | 1911 - Hook Maker |
| 1901 - Bleachfield Street, Alcester | 1914 - Hook Maker |
| 1911 - Bleachfield Street, Alcester | |
| 1915 - Bleachfield Street, Alcester | |
- Joseph must have lied about his age when he enlisted as birth records confirm that he was only 17 when he died, nearly a year later.