Hawkin, Harold

Harold Hawkin was born in York, England, on 19 November 1886. It is unclear when he immigrated to Canada.

Hawkin worked as a bricklayer before enlisting in the 35th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Toronto, Ontario, on 12 April 1915. After initial training in Canada, he embarked for England in June 1915.

Hawkin was posted to the 23rd Reserve Battalion at Shorncliffe, England, on 14 June 1915. In the middle of July, he was sent to France as a reinforcement for the 3rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Toronto Regiment). Four months later, Hawkin was attached to 171st Mining Company, and in February 1916, he was formally transferred to the 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company.

Hawkin married Millicent Beastall in England while serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and assigned part of his pay to her on 1 May 1916. On 16 August 1916, Hawkin was hospitalized with trench fever.

He rejoined his unit on 21 August 1916. On 4 July 1917, Hawkin was awarded a good conduct stripe.

On 16 June 1918, Hawkin was admitted to No. 7 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France, suffering from a skin infection on his face that would prove to be fatal. On 18 June 1918, he died at No. 14 Stationary Hospital, in Wimereux, France. Records show that the cause of his death was “inflammation [of] connective tissue [of the] Face and Erysipelas [skin infection].”

Harold Hawkin is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France.