33618, Private, 5th Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Died on the 5th April 1918 aged 22
(Formerly 5825 Hertfordshire Regiment)
William was born on the 22nd September 1896, the son of Charles and Emma Hawkins of Old School Green, Benington and enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment on the 13th November 1915.
He embarked for France on the 5th July 1916 and was posted to the 6th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment on the 7th September 1916. William was then posted to the 6th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on the 10th September 1917 and his Service Number changed to 33618. His last leave was from the 26th October to 6th November 1917. He was then posted to the 5th Battalion of the same Regiment on the 10th February 1918.
William was wounded and taken Prisoner on the 21st March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive on the Western Front. He died at 3.45pm on the afternoon of the 5th April 1918 from gunshot wounds at the Charleville War Hospital near Limburg in Germany, after being held for only two weeks. He was originally buried in the Hospital Grounds in Grave 617.
William is buried in the Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France. (17.F.1.)
Medal Entitlement: British War Medal & Victory Medal