Lance Corporal Roy Hawksford Royal Signals
The Man Roy Hawksford was born on Tuesday 21st March 1922 son of Thomas Edward and Edith Annie nee Dixon in Brentford, London. He was one of seven children, Thomas Frank born in 1905 sadly dying in 1908, Winifred Edith Anne 1906, Irene Constance 22nd July 1909, Charles Edward 4th January 1911, Phyllis Lilian 1912, Leslie Jack 1916.
Roy enlisted into the Territorial Army Royal Signals as Signalman 2585050 on 11th May 1939 at Stamford Brook aged 17. He was described as 5’ 9” tall, weighing 115lbs with a chest of 30”, fresh complexion blue eyes and light hair. In the 1939 Register, his family were living at 7 Grove Park Terrace, Brentford.
Roy was called out on 2nd September 1939 at 1000h, a day before the start of World War II, in the 2/44th Headquarters Divisional Signals at the Claremont, 55 Wellesley Road, Chiswick as a Clerk later becoming an Operator, Wireless and line.
Once Roy reached 18 in 1940, he was posted to North Africa seeing active service in the North Africa Campaign, followed by Italy and then Palestine, where at the end of the war, he paid a pilgrimage to the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Bethlehem. He was serving in 13 Corps, HQ Signals and promoted to Lance Corporal on 3rd September 1945.
After the war Roy was posted to North West Europe as part of the Army of Occupation and eventually travelled home overland from Austria to the UK via Villach, Spittal, Lienz, La Fortezza, Brenner Pass, Innsbruck, Ulm, Karlsruhe, Darmstadt, Mainz, Trier, Luxembourg, Sedan, Mezieres-Chareville, Le Cateau, Arras, St.Omer and Calais.
Roy enlisted into the Territorial Army Royal Signals as Signalman 2585050 on 11th May 1939 at Stamford Brook aged 17. He was described as 5’ 9” tall, weighing 115lbs with a chest of 30”, fresh complexion blue eyes and light hair. In the 1939 Register, his family were living at 7 Grove Park Terrace, Brentford.
Roy was called out on 2nd September 1939 at 1000h, a day before the start of World War II, in the 2/44th Headquarters Divisional Signals at the Claremont, 55 Wellesley Road, Chiswick as a Clerk later becoming an Operator, Wireless and line.
Once Roy reached 18 in 1940, he was posted to North Africa seeing active service in the North Africa Campaign, followed by Italy and then Palestine, where at the end of the war, he paid a pilgrimage to the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Bethlehem. He was serving in 13 Corps, HQ Signals and promoted to Lance Corporal on 3rd September 1945.
After the war Roy was posted to North West Europe as part of the Army of Occupation and eventually travelled home overland from Austria to the UK via Villach, Spittal, Lienz, La Fortezza, Brenner Pass, Innsbruck, Ulm, Karlsruhe, Darmstadt, Mainz, Trier, Luxembourg, Sedan, Mezieres-Chareville, Le Cateau, Arras, St.Omer and Calais.
On return to the UK he was released from Army on 30th August 1946 and transferred to the Army Reserve Class Z(T). His service was described as exemplary and the Lt Colonel, Office Commanding 13 Corps Signals wrote of Roy
“A keen and efficient NCO, a sound operator and has a good knowledge of wireless sets. Is a very hard worker and, as a junior NCO, had proved himself a tactful but strict disciplinarian. Has a cheerful personality, is thoroughly trustworthy, very keen and of sober habits.”
Following the war Roy lived at 7 Riverview Grove, Chiswick with his father moving later the same year to 4 Alexander Road, East Croydon. His National Insurance number was BBA6192264.
He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ for his war time service, the latter being notified in Army Order 62 of 1951. During the second quarter of 1948 aged 26 he married Lilian Rose Smith in Croydon.
In later life Roy and Lilian lived in Bath and Lilian died on 18th June 2010 aged 85 and her ashes buried at Haycombe Cemetery and Crematorium, Bath in PLOT 38.P.84 (P)
Roy lived a further 10 years living at 45 Bradford Park, Combe down, Bath, BA2 5PR, and died on 29th November 2020 aged 98 and cremated at Haycombe Crematorium on 18th January 2021 and his ashes interred in Shrubbery 32.
“A keen and efficient NCO, a sound operator and has a good knowledge of wireless sets. Is a very hard worker and, as a junior NCO, had proved himself a tactful but strict disciplinarian. Has a cheerful personality, is thoroughly trustworthy, very keen and of sober habits.”
Following the war Roy lived at 7 Riverview Grove, Chiswick with his father moving later the same year to 4 Alexander Road, East Croydon. His National Insurance number was BBA6192264.
He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ for his war time service, the latter being notified in Army Order 62 of 1951. During the second quarter of 1948 aged 26 he married Lilian Rose Smith in Croydon.
In later life Roy and Lilian lived in Bath and Lilian died on 18th June 2010 aged 85 and her ashes buried at Haycombe Cemetery and Crematorium, Bath in PLOT 38.P.84 (P)
Roy lived a further 10 years living at 45 Bradford Park, Combe down, Bath, BA2 5PR, and died on 29th November 2020 aged 98 and cremated at Haycombe Crematorium on 18th January 2021 and his ashes interred in Shrubbery 32.
Roy Hawksford's Medal award certificate confirming five medals.
The Story The medal group awarded to Roy Hawksford were acquired from Norman W Collett on 19th October 2021 and were acquired having been watched for a short time. They were of interest because of the excellent photographs of the recipient and additional paperwork with the group.
The papers coupled with a trawl of Ancestry.UK, Forces War Records and wills, enabled a brief biography to be built up, revealing Roy had only died eleven months previously in November 2020! It was also interesting to find a photograph of his wife’s headstone online, she having pre-deceased him by 10 years.
Subsequent enquiries with the cemetery and undertakers revealed Roy had been cremated and his ashes interred at the same cemetery as his wife, Haycombe Cemetery and Crematorium, Bath. However, sadly his details have not yet been placed on a headstone.
A fine example of a young man who enlisted into the Army so young to serve his country, lived so long and yet if not for his medals would easily become a forgotten ‘statistic’ of life. It is satisfying to know he will now be remembered and hopefully his name added to the headstone.
The papers coupled with a trawl of Ancestry.UK, Forces War Records and wills, enabled a brief biography to be built up, revealing Roy had only died eleven months previously in November 2020! It was also interesting to find a photograph of his wife’s headstone online, she having pre-deceased him by 10 years.
Subsequent enquiries with the cemetery and undertakers revealed Roy had been cremated and his ashes interred at the same cemetery as his wife, Haycombe Cemetery and Crematorium, Bath. However, sadly his details have not yet been placed on a headstone.
A fine example of a young man who enlisted into the Army so young to serve his country, lived so long and yet if not for his medals would easily become a forgotten ‘statistic’ of life. It is satisfying to know he will now be remembered and hopefully his name added to the headstone.
Reverse of photograph reads:
BRITISH OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH NO BH. 15148 (XP)
(War Office Photograph – Crown Copyright Reserved)
ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS
Men of the Royal Corps of Signals at work at a large formation headquarters. The control, receipt and distribution centres in the signals office are also shown. Much secret matter is handled by these men, on whom rests the responsibility of keeping up good and rapid inter-communications under all conditions.
Picture shows – Wireless room. Army operators, at their receiving sets. The key operates the transmitter which is away from HQ.
1940
Southern Command General Headquarters
Wilton House
Salisbury
(Roy Hawksford is the middle soldier)
BRITISH OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH NO BH. 15148 (XP)
(War Office Photograph – Crown Copyright Reserved)
ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS
Men of the Royal Corps of Signals at work at a large formation headquarters. The control, receipt and distribution centres in the signals office are also shown. Much secret matter is handled by these men, on whom rests the responsibility of keeping up good and rapid inter-communications under all conditions.
Picture shows – Wireless room. Army operators, at their receiving sets. The key operates the transmitter which is away from HQ.
1940
Southern Command General Headquarters
Wilton House
Salisbury
(Roy Hawksford is the middle soldier)
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 2585050 SIGMN.R.HAWKSFORD. R.SIGS.
This page last updated 9 May 22
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