Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers

Seven: Corporal J. W. Hawkings, North West Railway Volunteer Rifles, Indian Army, late North Staffordshire Regiment

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4509 Pte J. W. Hawkings 1/N. Staff: R.); 1914-15 Star (No. 2 Corpl. J. W. Hawkings, 2/Bn. N. W. Ry. Vol. Rfls.); British War Medal 1914-20 (2 Cpl. I. W. Hawkings, 2 Bn. N. W. Ry. M. G. Coy.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (2 Cpl. I. W. Hawkings. 2 Bn. N. W. Ry. Vol. Rfls.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (J. W. Hawkings, Rlys.); Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, G.V.R. (Cpl. J. W. Hawkins, 2-N.W. Ry. R. A.F.I.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Hafir (No 4509 Pte W. Hawkings 1. N. Staff. R.) edge bruise to last, light contact marks, generally very fine (7) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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John William Hawkings was born in 1876 at Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and attested for short service with the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1894. He served in Egypt and the Sudan 1895-97, taking part in the Dongola Expedition of 1896 and receiving the medal with Hafir clasp. The 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment was the only British Regiment to gain the Hafir clasp in any numbers. He next served ten years in the East Indies from 1897-1907 before being discharged in the rank of Corporal. In December 1908 he married Tessa Francis Gregory, in Quetta, Bengal, where he was residing while working as a Guard for the North West Railway. During the Great War he served with the Machine Gun Company of the North West Railway Rifles. This was the only section to serve overseas and saw extensive service in East Africa before Indian Forces were withdrawn from the theatre in 1917. He returned to India and served again on the North West Railway, running the important Kyber Pass and North West Frontier Route during the Third Afghan War in 1919.

Sold with copied attestation papers and medal roll extracts.