Claude Ernest Vincent Hawkings

Claude Ernest Vincent
Claude Ernest Vincent
Born	22 July 1895; Oxted, Surrey, England
Died	23 April 1918 (aged 22); Port of Zeebrugge, Belgium
Allegiance	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1908–1918
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	HMS Orion; HMS Iris II
Battles/wars	World War I; • Battle of Jutland; • Zeebrugge Raid
Awards	Mentioned in dispatches

Claude Ernest Vincent Hawkings joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in 1908. In 1913, he was promoted to Midshipman, and posted to HMS Orion. He remained on this ship until 17 June 1917. During this time, he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant and Acting Lieutenant, and participated in the Battle of Jutland.

Zeebrugge Memorial. Inscription reads:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
THESE THREE OFFICERS
AND ONE MECHANIC OF THE ROYAL NAVY
WHO FELL ON THE MOLE AT ZEEBRUGGE
ON ST GEORGE'S DAY 1918 AND HAVE
NO KNOWN GRAVE
WING COMMANDER BROCK F. A. O.B.E.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER HARRISON A. L. V.C.
LIEUTENANT HAWKINGS C.E.V.
MECHANIC SECOND CLASS F/50269 ROUSE J.

He was present during the Zeebrugge Raid, and was killed in action. His Service Record states:

'Mentioned [in despatches] for services during blocking operations against Zeebrugge 22–23 April 1918. Second in command of seamen storming party from Iris II, showed great bravery. Ascended first ladder alongside the Mole, secured the anchor and was then shot.'[1]

For a similar act of gallantry, the Commanding Officer of the storming party, Lieutenant Commander George Nicholson Bradford received the Victoria Cross, and Hawkings is mentioned in the VC citation. Hawkings received a mention in despatches from Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, for his distinguished services on the night of 22–23 April 1918,[2]

He is commemorated on the Zeebrugge Memorial, which stands in Zeebrugge Churchyard. The Zeebrugge Memorial commemorates Lieutenant Commander Harrison, Lieutenant Hawkings, Wing Commander Brock and one mechanic from Brock's smokescreen group. These four men died during the Zeebrugge raid and have no known grave.[3] His parents erected a brass memorial plaque to him in St. Andrews Church, Waterloo Street, Hove,[4] and his name also appears on the Marlborough House school War Memorial plaque in All Saints Church, Hove.[5]

References

Claude Ernest Vincent Hawkings on Lives of the First World War
"No. 13294". The Edinburgh Gazette. 25 July 1918. p. 2583.
Reading Room Manchester (23 April 1918). "Brock, Frank Arthur". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
"memorial to Claude Ernest Vincent Hawkings died 1918". johnevigar flickr. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
"Hove in the Past: All Saints Church, Hove". Judy Middleton Blogspot. Retrieved 13 April 2016.

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[Lieutenant_Claude_Ernest_Vincent_Hawkings-1] Claude Ernest Vincent Hawkings on Lives of the First World War

[2] "No. 13294". The Edinburgh Gazette. 25 July 1918. p. 2583.

[3] Reading Room Manchester (23 April 1918). "Brock, Frank Arthur". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 13 April 2016.

[St_Andrews-4] "memorial to Claude Ernest Vincent Hawkings died 1918". johnevigar flickr. Retrieved 13 April 2016.

[All_Saints-5] "Hove in the Past: All Saints Church, Hove". Judy Middleton Blogspot. Retrieved 13 April 2016.