Harold Hawkins

Harold Hawkins worked for the Northern Assurance Company upon leaving school in 1902. Today they are known as AVIVA, the leading general insurance provider in the United Kingdom. A keen rifleman, Hawkins was captain of the Alexander Palace Rifle Club, and represented them in the first of a series of “Civilian Bisleys” held over the famous range in 1912.

Before the War, Hawkins was a member of the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, but following the outbreak of hostilities he joined the 15th London Regiment and was soon commissioned into the 2nd (City of London) London Regiment as a second lieutenant before being promoted to captain in November 1915. Following an attack on German lines in June 1917, Captain Hawkins was wounded and had to be left behind. The hope that he would be taken a prisoner-of-war did not materialize and it is assumed he died of his wounds, as his body was never recovered.