Years of service 1908–1918 Service/branch Royal Navy | Rank Lieutenant Units HMS Orion, SS Royal Iris | |
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Born 22 July 1895
Oxted, Surrey, England ( 1895-07-22 ) Battles/wars World War I
• Battle of Jutland
• Zeebrugge Raid Awards Mentioned in dispatches Died 23 April 1918, Port of Zeebrugge, Lissewege, Belgium Allegiance United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | ||
Claude Ernest Vincent Hawkings joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in 1908. In 1913, he was promoted to Midshipman, and posted to HMS Orion. He remained on this ship until 17 June 1917. During this time, he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant and Acting Lieutenant, and participated in the Battle of Jutland.
He was present during the Zeebrugge Raid, and was killed in action. His Service Record states:
'Mentioned [in despatches] for services during blocking operations against Zeebrugge 22–23 April 1918. Second in command of seamen storming party from Iris II, showed great bravery. Ascended first ladder alongside the Mole, secured the anchor and was then shot.'
For a similar act of gallantry, the Commanding Officer of the storming party, Lieutenant Commander George Nicholson Bradford received the Victoria Cross, and Hawkings is mentioned in the VC citation. Hawkings received a mention in despatches from Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, for his distinguished services on the night of the 22–23 April 1918,
He is commemorated on the Zeebrugge Memorial, which stands in Zeebrugge Churchyard. The Zeebrugge Memorial commemorates Lieutenant Commander Harrison, Lieutenant Hawkings, Wing Commander Brock and one mechanic from Brock's smokescreen group. These four men died during the Zeebrugge raid and have no known grave. His parents erected a brass memorial plaque to him in St. Andrews Church, Waterloo Street, Hove, and his name also appears on the Marlborough House school War Memorial plaque in All Saints Church, Hove.