HAWKINS, Harold

Harold Hawkins was born at Wall Heath and was the seventh and youngest son of ex-PC Hawkins who came to live at 27 Wheeler Street, Stourbridge. Before 1914 he was a glass-maker for Messrs Fleming and Co. at Amblecote. He volunteered in December 1914 for the Worcesters and gained rapid promotion to Sergeant. He had been recommended for a commission but was injured at Delville Wood in August 1916. After convalescing at Chelsea Hospital he returned to the front with the South Staffords in !917 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion. When the Battle of Arras started on the 9th April the Staffords were in reserve and were not used until the 28th April at Oppy Wood. The German defences, however, were strong and a counter-attack drove the British troops back to their start line. Over 200 men were casualties and among those killed in action was Lance Sergeant Harold Hawkins. He was 25 years of age and is commemorated on the Arras,Stourbridge and Roman Catholic church Memorials.