HAWTIN Edward

Company Quartermaster Sergeant Edward Hawtin

1914 Star '5th AUG-22 NOV 1914' clasp. 1914-18 British War Medal (missing). Victory Medal (missing).

The Man Edward Hawtin was born during the second quarter of 1891 at 103 Regent Street, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, son of Robert Edward, a Bricklayers Labourer and Johanna nee Hungerford; he was shown on the census of that year as ‘Baby’ Hawtin. Edward was one of five children, Thomas Clarence born in 1889 - 1964, Joseph 1892, Henry Sidney 1894 and Dorthy Mary 1896, Baptised in 1897 at All Saint’s Church but sadly died very shortly afterwards.

Tragically, Edward’s mother Johanna also passed away in 1899 aged just 32 when he was aged 7. The 1901 census shows Edward, Joseph and their father living at 8 Pickfords Buildings, Brook Street. Robert re-married in 1901 to Emily Butler and they had four more children Charles Robert (June 1902 - 1961), Alfred (September 1905 - ), William John (7th November 1907 - 1990) and Dorithy Emily (10th October 1910 – 1991).

In 1908 aged 17 Edward enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with service number 1218 and promoted in time to Lance Sergeant and later Company Quartermaster Sergeant. The 1911 census shows the rest of his family still in Brook Street at 8 South View Cottages.

At the outbreak of world War I on 4th August 1914, Edward was stationed in Albania and drafted to rejoin his Battalion in Malta. From there he returned to the UK and then to the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force (Kitchener’s Contemptible Little Army), entering Belgium on 4th October 1914 with the 7th Division. The 7th was formed comprising of the 20, 21, 22 and 91 Brigades, most of which were manned by serving regulars returning from outposts in the British Empire.

Edward later served in the 2nd Battalion RWR, surviving the war until 30th July 1917, when he was severely wounded, most likely during the early stages of Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele. Succumbing to his injuries he died the next day 31st and buried at Achiet-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery, Extension, France, plot I.P.5. He was also later remembered on the War Memorial in Leamington Spa.

Edward was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star with ‘5th August – 22nd November’ clasp, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Edward Hawtin's Medal Index Card showing award of 1914 Star and clasp, British War and Victory Medals and his Pension Index Card.

The Story The single 1914 Star awarded to Edward Hawtin was acquired from Great War Medals on 31st July 2024, coincidentally 106 years to the day Edward passed away.

The medal was of immediate interest as Edward was a Leamingtonian, a sub-theme of this collection and he had died of wounds in World War I, his name appearing on the Leamington Spa War Memorial.

Sadly, his War and Victory Medals are missing but Ancestry and Newspaper Archives enabled a brief biography of his life to be pieced together and another soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice to be remembered.