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Record #27644
Name :
: Frederick HAWKES (1892 - 1998)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 15 Apr 1892   Notes : Redon, England

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 18 Aug 1998   Notes : Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Hillside Cemetery, Portage, Manitoba
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 6 Apr 1902   Notes : Portland, Maine, USA
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Dominion

Placement Family
: Mr. Percy A. Dinning., Kerwood, Ontario
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardo
NotesHAWKES Frederick Emigration - 1st Party 1902
Placement Family from Up/Downs issued 1902 July-August Issue 3 Volume 8 - Gene CS88 A1 U68, reel 3

This is taken from the Winnipeg Free Press at Frederick's death in 1998. I'm not sure how true the facts are. 1911 census Fred 18 is living with the Albert Hutcheson family in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba his birthdate given as Apr 1893 (but not there 1906). There are photo's of him and his medals of honour. His Attestation File says he is born Reden, England (I cannot locate such a place but wonder if it is Reading, Buckingham). England 1901 census have a few Frederick Hawkes listed.

Frederick Hawkes died nearly two decades ago, on Aug. 18, 1998.

He liked country music and sewing. He lived alone – never marrying — and he farmed his soldier’s land grant near Portage la Prairie. He also worked in construction and as a commissionaire.

But his was not an ordinary life.

Hawkes was born in Redon, England, on April 15, 1892, yet he never knew his parents. He came to Portage la Prairie, alone at age 10, as a British Home Child. British Home Children, who were also known as the Barnardo Boys, were destitute and orphaned and sent from England to Canada as farm labourers. At age 18, he was conscripted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force and served in France with the 8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg Rifles/Royal Winnipeg Rifles). In November 1918, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He later served in the Second World War.

When Hawkes died at the Portage District General Hospital – at age 106 and 136 days — he was the longest living combat infantry soldier in Canada. He was buried in the military section of Portage’s Hillside Cemetery. There were other First World War vets who lived longer, but they did not go into combat.

His military memorabilia and papers have been donated to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Regimental Museum, located at the Minto Armouries. 
ContributorsCreated : 2017-11-15 04:35:27 / gdc

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  5 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
27644 HAWKES, Frederick1892ENG,     Apr 1902 : Dominion CAN Barnardo  
17068 HAWKES, Frederick George1892ENG, LDN, London Apr 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
9377 HAWKES, John1893ENG,     Mar 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
19209 HAWKES, Mabel1891ENG,     Aug 1901 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
18343 HAWKES, Mabel Elizabeth1887ENG,    , Fulford May 1898 : Laurentian CAN Southwark Catholic Emigration Committee