Main CPGW Record
Surname: HAWKSWELL
Forename(s): Percy
Place of Birth: Leeds, Yorkshire
Service No: 41483
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Northumberland Fusiliers
Battalion / Unit: 26th (Service) Battalion. (3rd Tyneside Irish)
Division: 34th Division
Age: 21
Date of Death: 1917-11-08
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: I. D. 7.
CWGC Cemetery: ST. MARTIN CALVAIRE BRITISH CEMETERY, ST. MARTIN-SUR-COJEUL
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Percy Hawkswell was the son of William Henry and Ann Elizabeth Hawkswell, née Blades. William was born at Skipton and Ann at Melmerby (Coverdale), Yorkshire. Percy was baptized at Roseville Road Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Leeds, 31 May 1896. The family were living at 100, Elmwood Street at the time. Percy was the cousin of Gunner Arthur Hawkswell (174014) (q.v.).
1901 Leeds, Yorkshire Census: 79, Albert Grove - Percy Hawkswell, aged 4 years, born Leeds, son of William H. and Ann E. Hawkswell.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 24, Water Street - Percy Hawkswell, aged 14 years, born Leeds, Yorkshire, son of William Henry and Annie Elizabeth Hawkswell.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Percy Hawkswell, 19668, West Riding Regiment & 41483, Northumberland Fusiliers.
The image of the Northumberland Fusiliers cap badge also shows the collar badge of the Tyneside Irish battalions.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
HAWKSWELL, P., N.F., son of Mrs. Hawkswell, 24, Water Street, Skipton, killed in action Nov. 8, 1917.
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Private Percy HAWKSWELL
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Northumberland Fusiliers
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 34th Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
30 November 1917
HAWKSWELL – November 8th 1917, killed in action on the Western Front, Private Percy Hawkswell, Northumberland Fusiliers, younger son of Mrs. W. H. Hawkswell, 24, Water Street, Skipton, aged 21 years.
30 November 1917
SKIPTON'S ROLL OF HONOUR – PRIVATE PERCY HAWKSWELL
To the already lengthy list of Skiptonians who have fallen in the Great War has to be added the name of Pte. Percy Hawkswell, Northumberland Fusiliers, younger son of Mrs. W. H. Hawkswell, 24 Water Street, Skipton, official news of whose death on November 8th was received last weekend. Twenty-one years of age, deceased enlisted in March 1916, and went out to the Front four months later. He was formerly in the employ of Mr. Gilbert Sutherland, greengrocer, Skipton. Another son of Mrs. Hawkswell is serving with the R.A.M.C. and is at present in hospital.
Writing to Mrs. Hawkswell, Pte. Percy Moulton, another Skipton soldier who is also with the Northumberland Fusiliers, says:– “His death was caused by a shell bursting in the ‘bay’ where he was with three others who were all killed. It was all very sudden and you can rest assured he would not feel any pain. It gave me a terrible shock when they told me, as I had only been talking to him on the Monday before, when we were at the baths. Percy was not in the same Company as me, but we always had a good talk together about home. I cannot express in words how sorry I feel for you. All the lads in his Company miss him, as he was a general favourite.”
Pte. John Hodgson, of Skipton, who enlisted on the same date and in the same Battalion as deceased, has also written a letter of sympathy to the bereaved mother. He adds:– “He was a very good boy, and being in the same Regiment in France I feel his loss very much.”
In a letter of sympathy to Mrs. Hawkswell, the Rev. S. Hinchliffe, Army Chaplain, says her son was killed by a shell whilst he was in the trenches. He buried him in a cemetery close by, and his comrades have created a beautiful cross over his grave.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
23 November 1917
HAWKSWELL – Killed in action, Nov. 8th, Pte. Percy Hawkswell, Northumberland Fusiliers, son of Mrs. A. E. Hawkswell, 24, Water Street, Skipton.
30 November 1917
SKIPTON
PTE. P. HAWKSWELL KILLED
Mrs. W. H. Hawkswell, of 24, Water Street, Skipton, has received official news that her youngest son, Pte. Percy Hawkswell, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on November 8th. Rev. S. Hinchcliffe, chaplain to the Northumberland Fusiliers, in a letter to Mrs. Hawkswell, states:–- “Your son was killed by a shell in the trenches. I buried him in a cemetery close by, and his comrades are erecting a cross to his memory. I do pray that the good God will comfort you in this trying time.”
Pte. Percy Moulton, a Skipton soldier in the same battalion as the deceased, writes:– “His death was caused by a shell bursting in the bay where he was with three others, who were all killed. It was all very sudden, and you can rest assured that he would not feel any pain. It gave me a terrible shock when they told me, as I had only been talking to him on the Monday before, when we were at the baths. Percy was not in the same company as me, but, we always had a good talk together about home. I cannot express in words how sorry I feel for you. All the lads in his company miss him, as he was a general favourite.”
Pte. John Hodgson, another Skipton soldier, who enlisted at the same time as the deceased, has also written expressing his sympathy, and adds: – “Percy was a very good boy. We both went to Shields together, and then being in the same regiment in France, I feel the loss very much. Pte. Hawkswell, who was 21 years of age, enlisted in March, 1916, and went out to France in July of the same year. Mrs. Hawkswell has another son serving, Pte. George Hawkswell, who is attached to the R.A.M.C., and is at present in hospital.
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