Hawkins, Samuel Hedley Hemming (Corporal, b.1897 - d.1981)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 292 (later 4076) Corporal Samuel Hedley Hemming Hawkins. Hawkins enlisted in 1914 with the service number 292, and served with 15 Battalion in Gallipoli and Egypt. He was discharged with enteric fever in 1916 and sent home to Australia to recover. He rejoined later in the same year and was discharged from service in 1917. He re-enlisted later in 1917, as Hedley Hawkins, and was assigned a new service number of 4076 and served with 4 Pioneers in England and France. He was discharged in 1919.

Collection consists of two small diaries written by Hawkins: one red-covered, with slide pocket for pencil (pencil not included), written in Australia, Egypt and Turkey, covering all of 1915; the other buff coloured notebook (kept as diary) written at sea and from England covers July 1917 to February 1918. Also included is a copy of a black and white photograph of Hawkins with his parents and one of his sisters.

Hawkins first diary describes the voyage from Australia to Egypt, training, camp life, desert storms, sightseeing in Cairo, troop inspections and the Gallipoli landing on 25 April. He also describes his impressions of the Turkish troops, his battle experience, tunneling work, Shrapnel Gully, Monash Valley, Pope's Hill, Quinn's Post, Courtney's Post, sniper attacks, naval bombardments of Achi Baba and Turkish counter-attacks, fatigue, entertainment, prisoners, the cold weather, water shortages, Sari Bar, the fight for Hill 971, evacuation to hospital on Lemnos and return to Egypt. Hawkins second diary (covering his second period of service) describes the troops departure from Australia, arrival in England and life in camps at Fovant and Sutton Veny, comparison of drills between 1915 and 1917, guard duties, 1917 Conscription Referendum, weather, visiting relatives, impressions of England, and the billeting scheme.

• Diary of Samuel Hedley Hemming Hawkins, 1914-1916
• Diary of Samuel Hedley Hemming Hawkins, 1917-1918
• Photograph of Samuel Hedley Hemming Hawkins and family