Gilbert W. Hawkins

Lieutenant, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

Gilbert W. Hawkins was a student at Alleyn’s until 1901 and joined the war effort as part of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps after being granted a commission. He served overseas on the Western Front as a Lieutenant and saw action in France in 1916. In November, he took part in the final operation of the Somme Offensive, the Battle of Ancre, which saw the Allies attempt to exploit German exhaustion and gain more ground. It was during this attack that Gilbert was killed in action on November 15^th 1916. He is buried at Hamel Military Cemetery.