A Great War 1917 ‘French theatre’ Lewis Gunner’s M.M. awarded to Private A. Hawker, 57th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for his gallantry at Beaumetz, 24 March 1917. He was killed in action when blown up by a German shell at Glencourse Wood, Ypres, 25 September 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2717 Pte. A. Hawker. 57/Aust: Inf:) minor repair to central post, with official corrections, nearly very fine £500-600

M.M. London Gazette 11 May 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘At Beaumetz on the morning of 24th March 1917 during an attack by the enemy on our position, Pte. Hawker showed great gallantry in the face of the enemy. He was in charge of a Lewis gun. When his platoon was driven out of their position and had to retire, he showed great coolness in covering the retirement with his gun, killing a number of the advancing enemy, and afterwards bringing his gun back to the rallying position. He advanced again in a counterattack and was the first to bring fire to bear on the retreating enemy from the recaptured position. His coolness and initiative steadied the men of the party at a most critical time and in a great measure was responsible for the small number of casualties in the retirement. His conduct throughout was of the highest order and is worthy of distinction.’

Albert Hawker was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in 1892. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, at Billavat, Victoria, 24 June 1915, and was posted to join the 8th Australian Infantry Battalion Reinforcements at Gallipoli. He was evacuated to Alexandria, Egypt, in January 1916, before transferring to the 60th Australian Infantry Battalion the following month. Hawker transferred to the 57th Australian Infantry Battalion in March 1916, and served with the Battalion as part of the 15th Australian Brigade, 5th Australian Division in the French theatre of war.

Hawker was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations at Beaumetz, Picardy, 24 March 1917. He was presented with his M.M., with other members of the 5th Division, by General Birdwood, 22 July 1917. Hawker was killed in action, whilst serving with the Battalion at Ypres, 25 September 1917. Initially reported as ‘missing in action’, the following statement from Private A. Pareman, 57th Australian Infantry Battalion, gives further details:

‘I knew Lance-Corporal Hawker well. He was in No. 16 Platoon Lewis Gun Section. About 26th September 1917 [sic], he was with his section behind a tank at Glencourse Wood. A German shell landed behind the tank right in the middle of his section. Lance-Corporal Hawker was killed. I saw him dead. There was no time to bury him.’

Lance-Corporal Hawker is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.