Category Archives: Graves

Arthur George Head

Army, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Arthur George Head
Private 30163
15th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment

Division 33

CIMG2194

Arthur George Head, was the son of Alfred and Hannah Head, of 12 Derby Street, Reading. His death was reported in the Reading Standard 24th June 1916, he was 37.  

“After having joined the Colours a couple of days, Arthur Head of 12 Derby Street,  Reading, was found dead with his throat cut, in the scullery of his home on Saturday evening.  The deceased, employed by Huntley, Borne and Stevens, joined up under the Derby Scheme, he  was in Group 15, and was single.  He obtained exemption on an appeal made by his employers.  He had been fitted for his uniform on the Friday.  At the inquest two reasons were put forward for him taking his life.  One was the death of his brother in law to whom he was attached, and the other was the fact of his having to join up.

His parents found him lying on the scullery floor on their return from shopping, with his face covered in blood.  A neighbour and the doctor were sent for.  He had a big gash in his throat and a razor was by his side.  A note on the table said “I am sorry, but my head has played me up so.  I am not a coward”.  The verdict was suicide during temporary insanity”. 

Arthur Head is buried in a registered war grave number 10996 and this is marked with a CWGC war pattern headstone. 

Oliver Luther Hawkins

Abbey Baptist Church, Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading School War Memorial, Ypres

Oliver Luther Hawkins
Second Lieutenant
3rd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment.

 Division 29

Hawkins OL photo  CIMG2096

Oliver Luther Hawkins was the son of William Slade Hawkins and is commemorated on the family grave on the corner of the division next to the boundary wall.  He died of wounds during April 1915.  The date of death on the cemetery headstone is 23rd April 1915, that of the CWGC register 26th April 1915.  He was aged 22.

Oliver Hawkins is buried at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, North France. Location II.E.28.   Hazebrouck, is a town about 56 kilometres from Calais and is easily reached.  From October 1914 to September 1917 Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Hazebrouck.   Although, from September 1917 to September 1918, enemy shelling rendered the town unsafe for hospitals.

It is likely that Oliver Hawkins had gone through the initial parts of the usual evacuation process of the wounded but succumbed to his injuries before reaching a base hospital.  The Second Battle of Ypres was taking place at the time of his death. 

The 1901 census indicates that the family lived at 97 London Road, his father was a private secretary. He had one sister and three brothers. The 1911 census indiates that he was a border in School House, Reading School.  At Reading School Oliver was a popular sportsman and gifted student.  He won the Lord Roberts prize and distinctions in cricket and football.  Oliver studied for a time at Marburg University, Germany and in 1913 went to Jesus College, Cambridge.   Whilst at Cambridge he joined the OTC and obtained a commission. The headstone of the family grave bears sad testimony to the early deaths of several family members.  His father died in November 1915. 

Septimus James Hawkes

Graves, Reading School War Memorial, St. Batholomew's Church

Septimus James Hawkes
Captain Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 66
Extension

Hawkes SJ photo

Septimus James Hawkes,  was the son of  Eliza Laura Louise Hawkes and John Hollingworth Hawkes, of 49, London Road, Reading.  His is a registered war grave with a private memorial, number 14431. Septimus James Hawkes was the youngest of nine children and the family lived at 5a Bulmershe Road at the time of the 1901 census. His father was a bank accountant. By 1911 his mother was a widow of independent means living with a companion, servant and four children on Basingstoke Road. Septimus was still in school.  Septimus James Hawkes on enlistment served  with the Royal Fusiliers and arrived in France on 7 December 1915. When he was promoted to Lieutenant he was posted to the Royal Berkshire Regiment where he was later promoted to Captain.

The Reading Standard of  July 20th 1918 reported his funeral:

“The Funeral of Captain S. J. Hawkes at, St. Bartholomew’s Church, Reading,  was attended by a large congregation. Captain Hawkes died suddenly at his barracks in Dublin on the 10th July.

Before the war he had been interested in the boys of St. Bartholomew’s Church and had held the position of Scout master.  Educated at Reading School where he was a member of the OTC and the Rugby XV.  He joined the University and Public Schools Brigade soon after the commencement of hostilities and subsequently transferred to the Military College, Sandhurst where he obtained his commission in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.  He served in France for some time and was wounded and returned to England, later he went to Ireland.  He had recently been on leave when he was best man at his brothers wedding.  He had passed exams for the Royal Air Force to which he had transferred just before his death.  There was  a firing party  from the Royal Berkshire Regiment Depot and wreath in regimental colours.  Capt. Hawkes was 23”.

Captain Hawkes is commemorated upon the Reading School war memorial.