James Hawkins was born on 14.03.1895 at 8 Hales Square, Burslem, Staffordshire and baptised at Cobridge August 1895. His parents were Thomas Hawkins born c.1848 at Burslem and Elizabeth née Furness Born c.1848 at Tunstall. Thomas and Elizabeth were married on the 4th Aug 1878, St Peter ad Vincula, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. They would go on to have five children. Samuel Lewis born 26.10.1883 at Burslem, Mary Lucy born c. 1885 at Burslem, William Thomas born 11.06.1887 at 35 Saul Street, Burslem, Thomas born 11.07.1890 at Burslem and James in 1895. 

The 1901 Census shows the Hawkins family are living at 56 Rushton Road, Cobridge, Burslem. James is aged 5 and his father Thomas now 43 is still a Potters Placer, Elizabeth still Domestic Duties, Samuel Lewis is aged 18 and a Potters Labourer, Mary Lucy aged 15 is a Potters Thimble Packer, William Thomas is aged 13 and working as a Potters Mould Runner, Thomas is aged 11. 

The 1911 Census shows us that James, now aged 17 and working as a Potters Glost Placer, is now living with his older brother Samuel at 16 Sandbach Road, Burslem. Samuel Lewis Hawkins married Eliza nee Peaty in 1904.  Samuel is also a Potters Glost Placer, he and Eliza have a son aged 1 called Thomas William Hawkins. When he was 12 years old James' mother Elizabeth Hawkins died on the 22nd February 1907 aged 49 of a Stroke. Her address at the time of death was 8 Sandbach Road, Burslem. His father Thomas Hawkins remarried Ellen née James in 1908. 

James’ WW1 service papers survive and show us that he enlisted on the 8th December 1915, he was aged 22 and employed as a Glost Placer at Royal Doulton and was living at 31 Victoria Street, Burslem. He was married to Florence nee Lovatt and had one child called Minnie who was born on the 13th October 1915. He was placed in the 5th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment with service number 203442. 

James had married Florence Lovatt at Burslem St John Church in 1915. Florence had been born in Burslem on the 20th March 1890 and on the 1911 census we see she comes from an extensive family of Lovatts  and at the age of 21 was a Transferer in Pottery Manufacturing. The family all lived at Victoria Street in Burslem. Florence also known as Florrie went on to remarry a Mr John Hill. 

He was sent to France on the 8th June 1917 and on the 26th June 1917 was transferred to the 1st Battalion Notts Derby Regiment and renumbered 235161. At the beginning of August 1917 he suffered a gunshot wound to the face. We do not know the severity but he was discharged back to duty on the 31st August 1917. War diaries do show us that the battalion were in the Ypres area and during the days towards the end of July 1917 they were preparing for an attack in the Westhoek region. During this brief phase 7 wounded were recorded. 

On the 20th October 1918 he died of wounds whilst with the 1st Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment. The war diary of the 1st Battalion Notts Derbs gives little insight into how James was wounded/died. We can see that on the day of his death, the battalion are in front line positions at a place called Le Hem in France, no casualties are mentioned but the previous day a Company Sergeant Major and one other man are wounded. It is likely this is James. During the whole month of October the battalion suffered 82 men wounded and 11 killed.

His wife Florence was awarded a gratuity of £6 and a weekly pension of 20 shillings and 5 pennies from the 19th May 1919.

He is buried in the Auberchicourt British Cemetery grave number III.B.3

He is also remembered on the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial

He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

James brother William Thomas Hawkins  45605 of the 4th North Staffordshire Regiment was also killed in action on the 29th April 1918.

SOURCES.

• Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
• 1901 census :Class: RG13; Piece: 2597; Folio: 37; Page: 9
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
• The National Archives; London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363
• Military-Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
• National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 794501-796000; Reference: 481
• Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 095/0424/Haw-Haw
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12628, ED 14, Sch 228; Book: 12628
• Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
• https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/533849/j-hawkins/
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56049180/j-hawkins
• M.Hawkins Rafterty marriage: 1838 General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 6b; Page: 347
• The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5404A
• Birth Raftery Malcolm E. (Hawkins)Newcastle L. https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=187671294:5930&d=bmd_1774231192