DURHAM PALS MILITARY GROUP 18/767 SJT HAWKINS DLI. A LEWIS GUNNER

DURHAM PALS MILITARY GROUP 18/767 SJT HAWKINS DLI. A LEWIS GUNNER who inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy at La Becque in April 1918. He kept a diary which details his experience on the First Day of the Somme. Military Medal correctly impressed 767 SJT G E Hawkins 18/ Durham L I 1914/15 Star correctly impressed 18- 767 Pte G E Hawkins Durh L I; British War Medal correctly impressed (Upside-down) 18- 767 Pte G E Hawkins Durh L I; Victory Medal correctly impressed 18- 767; Pte G E Hawkins Durh L I, Swing mounted as worn. Condition GVF George Edward Hawkins was born in Newton Le Willows, Yorkshire. Along with his family, he moved to West, Hartlepool at a very young age. By 1911 the family were living Lister Street West Hartlepool, and George had found employment as a Clerk. He enlisted into the 18th battalion of the Durham Light Infantry with service number 18/767. George was posted to Egypt with the rest of the Bn landing there on 22nd December 1915. George went on to serve in France, seeing action on the Somme. He kept a diary and wrote this of his experiences on the 1st of July 1916; 'Laid in assembly trench under heavy bombardment by enemy. At 7.25 Mgus were heard traversing our parapets & at 7.30 the Leeds advanced only to be mown down by it. We advanced in our turn & all got into our frontline supply. We were then ordered to move to the left which we did passing over many dead & wounded men. The Germans had a very heavy barrage on us all the time& the front line was gradually being levelled. R Birks (possibly 18/663 Arthur Reginald Birks) was killed be HE just after he had fired the gun. I took over gun & moved on to the left where we found about a dozen fellows of various Batts had congregated. There were 5 Lewis & 2 Vickers MG, so we decided to keep a lookout in case of a counter-attack. About 4.0 we decided to find our way out & eventually we got into Blepau & to our ration dump where we arrived about 4.30. We were attached to B co together for R & O together with the only two left of no.1 Gun team. Slept in Maitland for the night. About 12 of D Coy turned up before 9.0pm.' On 12th April 1918 Hawkins won the Military medal for the following act; 'For great gallantry and disregard of personal danger. During the German attack on LA BECQUE on the morning of the 12th April 1918, his company was left in a position with both flanks in the air. When the position was rendered untenable owing to heavy machine-gun fire from the right flank, it was decided to withdraw the posts leaving the right posts to give covering fire. Corporal Hawkins was in charge of a Lewis Gun Team in one of the left posts. He himself remained with his gun until the right post had withdrawn, keeping his gun in action until the ammunition was exhausted and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy while advancing. He then withdraw and brought his gun out of action himself, using it later during a very trying rear-guard action, with remarkable effect. His coolness and personal bravery inspired all with whom he came into contact with renewed determination.' The Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette on 6th August 1918. George survived the war. The group comes with extensive original ephemera, including his handwritten diary on sheets of squared paper. Original citation for the MM; post-war photographs of reunions; A Matchbox cover in aluminium inscribed ' Souvenir from German aeroplane brought down at Hebuterne 16th Feb 1917': Discharge documents and certificates.