George Augustus Hawkins was born on 4 July 1893 at 89 Albany Road in Reading, Berkshire. His father was a bricklayer’s journeyman, Herbert Harry Hawkins, and his mother was Rose Elizabeth Hawkins, formerly North.

George Hawkins joined the Portsmouth Division of the Royal Navy in the stoker branch on 14 May 1913.  Signing on for an engagement of 12 years, he gave his civilian occupation as a ‘general labourer’.  His service record shows that he was 5 ft 6¼ins tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. On his right forearm was tattooed a heart, a cross and ‘GH’, whilst his left forearm had seven dots and on the back of his hand, two pears.

He joined HMS Victory II as a Stoker, 2nd Class, serving from 14 May until 28 October 1913. I believe that this indicates service at the Portsmouth naval base, as the 1913 Navy List indicates that Portsmouth had a section which was responsible for ‘2nd Class Stokers under Training’.

Transferred to HMS Dido II from 29 October to 31 December 1913, probably the Depot Ship of 6th Destroyer Flotilla and later 3rd Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth. Joined HMS Attentive II on 1 January 1914 and remained on her strength until 23 April 1914.  Again probably a Depot Ship, attached to 1st Destroyer Flotilla.

He then spent a few weeks at HMS Victory, until joining HMS Liverpool on 7 May 1914.  On 1 July 1914 George Hawkins joined HMS Victory II and spent the month there, before joining the 900-man crew of HMS Good Hope on 1 August 1914.  He was promoted Stoker 1st Class whilst aboard the ship on 1 September 1914.

HMS Good Hope was part of a British naval force dispatched at the beginning of the Great War to the Pacific, to counter German Navy units operating there. 

 

On 1 November 1914, in company with HMS Monmouth and other ships, the squadron was engaged by a superior German force.  Both Good Hope and Monmouth were lost with all hands during the ensuing battle, with the surviving British ships forced into a hasty withdrawal.

George Hawkins is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Geoff Smith