HAWKSHAW, Ernest
| Service Number: | 67 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 February 1916, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Canterbury, New South Wales, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Guildford, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 25 December 1964, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens & Crematorium, Queensland Cremated |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 67, 3rd Division Cyclist Company, Enlisted at Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1916: | Involvement Corporal, 67, 3rd Division Cyclist Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 18 May 1916: | Embarked Corporal, 67, 3rd Division Cyclist Company, HMAT Demosthenes, Sydney | |
| 11 Oct 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 54th Infantry Battalion, In England | |
| 27 Oct 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 67, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 1st Infantry Battalion, From 54th Battalion | |
| 3 Dec 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 3rd Infantry Battalion, From 1st Battalion | |
| 27 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3rd Infantry Battalion, In France | |
| 18 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Apr 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 31 Aug 1918: | Honoured Military Cross, Citation reads: Near Proyart, on the 23rd August 1918 he led his platoon through heavy rifle and machine gun fire against a strong enemy position. His coolness and daring inspired his men and had a marked effect on the success of the operation. Though wounded during the fight he remained at duty until the position was consolidated London Gazette on 1 February 1919, page 1729, position 3 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 3 June 1919, page 949, position 4 | |
| 17 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 2nd Military District |
Ernest Hawkshaw's life
Ernest was born in Petersham in 1890 as the sixth child of Theordore Philip Hawkshaw and his wife Isabella Keith.
On 22nd February 1916, He enlisted in the 3rd Division Cyclist Corps giving his mother as next of kin and stating that his occupation was a clerk aged 25 years and 11 months. He stated he had spent six months guard duty on the German Concentration Camp. We can presume that this was the camp near Holdsworth in Sydney rather than the camps in Trial Bay or Berrima.
He was transferred several times between the 1st, 54th and 3rd Battalions. He was wounded on three occasions. He was promoted to Sergeant and on 18th October 1917, he was to be a Second Lieutenant.
He was awarded the Military Cross on 31st August 1918 with the citation.
“Near Proyart, France on 23rd August 1918 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Lieut Hawkshaw led his platoon in an attack against a strong and commanding enemy position under heavy rifle and machine gun fire.
His coolness and daring inspired his men with his own fine military spirit and had a marked effect on the success of the operation.
Though wounded during the fight, he remained at duty until his objective was captured and the position consolidated.”
He was also mentioned in dispatches for the period 16th September to 11th November 1918. He returned to Australia on 9th December 1918
He married Norma Frances Scullin in 1925 in Liverpool and later moved to Tamworth where he was employed as a salesman. By 1943, he is shown on the electoral roll as a manufacturer in South Brisbane. He died on 25th December 1964 in Brisbane.
Submitted 29 May 2021 by Bryan O'Halloran
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Commenced return to Australia on 9 December 1918 aboard HT Leicestershire disembarking on 22 January 1919 in Melbourne for onward travel to Sydney
Medals: Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal
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