Firefighter who died as a result of a fire at Langley St, WC2. Hawkins, Rawden and Gadd died 11-23 May 1954.
Frederick Ernest Hawkins was born on 28 June 1913 in Tottenham, Middlesex (now Greater London, the fourth of the five children of George Albert Hawkins (1883-1917) and Violet Hawkins née Freeman (1885-1972). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1913 in the Edmonton Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London).
His four siblings were: Millicent Rose Hawkins (1906-1951); George Arthur Hawkins (b.1908); Elsie Violet Hawkins (b.1910) and Kathleen Hawkins (b.1916).
His father was killed in action as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery whilst in service with the British Expeditionary Force in France on 20 September 1917.
On the 1921 census return form completed by his mother he is shown as Frederick Hawkins, aged 8 years and in whole-time education. He was living in three rooms at 5 Sperling Road, London, N17, with his mother and his three sisters.
The 1939 England and Wales Register confirms his date of birth and shows him as a Fireman in the London Fire Brigade living at 9 Summerhill Grove, Enfield, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his mother and sister Kathleen Hawkins who was listed as a dairy clerk.
On 23 November 1940 he married Hannah O'Connor (1915-2004) at St Monica's Church, 1 Stonard Road, London, N13 and they had three children including Mary Kathleen Hawkins (1942-2019) and James Connor Hawkins (b.1946).
On 8 August 1942 he departed from Avonmouth, Bristol, aboard the SS Glenogle of the Glen Line Ltd bound for Bombay, India. On the ship's manifest he was shown as aged 29 years, a Fire Brigade Sub Officer who lived at 20 Kendor Avenue, Epsom, Surrey. The manifest shows that he was in a party of 12 Fire Brigade Officers and 9 Fire Brigade Sub Officers who were being sent to India for the duration of the war.
He was a Station Officer in the London Fire Brigade based at Clerkenwell Fire Station when he died, aged 40 years, when attending a fire on 11 May 1954 in a warehouse in Langley Street, Covent Garden, London. His death was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1954 in the Westminster Registration District, London. Probate records confirm his address had been 44 Temple Meads, Epsom, Surrey and that when administration of his estate was granted to his widow on 16 August 1954 his effects totalled £1,804-12s-6d.
He is shown as 'Stn O Frederick E. Hawkins' on the London Fire Brigade Memorial in Highgate Cemetery, Swain's Lane, London, N6 and as 'FREDERICK HAWKINS' on the in Langley Street, London, WC2. He is also commemorated on the and his name is recorded on the National Firefighters Memorial in Sermon Lane, London, EC4.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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