Septimus James Hawkes
Captain Royal Berkshire Regiment
Division 66
Extension
 |
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.