Page 95 - ATKCM_30.04.15
P. 95
1st Battalion was heavily involved in the fighting all through
1917 including the Battle of Passchendaele in October. At
the end of January 1918 William was granted a short leave in
England. It was on his return in March, when the Battalion was
involved in the Somme crossings, that William was probably
gassed.
He went initially to the Australian Hospital at Rouen but was
sent back to the military hospital in Leicester at the end of March
where he stayed until 1st May.
The Stamford & Rutland News of 10th April 1918 reports:-
“Kings Cliffe. Mr H. Harker has paid a visit to Leicester Hospital, to see
his son Corporal William Harker, who was gassed. He is progressing
satisfactorily.”
On release from hospital he had nine days leave back in Kings
Cliffe. He did not go back to the front but served the rest of
the war in England until he was demobilised at the end of
September 1919.
Whilst still in the army he married Sophy Elizabeth Smith of
Hertford.
It is likely that they later moved to Peterborough and had three
children, Michael born 1921, John born 1923 and Ellen born
1926. He died in Peterborough in 1946.
HAWKE Thomas Simpkin
Possibly Private 53189 Royal Army Medical Corps
Thomas was born in 1880 in Hallaton, Leicestershire, to George
and Mary Ann Hawke of Hallaton.
He was a veteran of the Boer War.
He moved to Kings Cliffe soon after his marriage to Margaret
Peberdy in 1905. He worked in the village as a plumber and
decorator, probably for his uncle Edwin, and lived on Park
Street.
He rejoined the army and went to France on 17th May 1915. He
was discharged in Nov 1917, possibly from illness.
He died in Hallaton in 1958 after falling on to an electric fire.
93
1917 including the Battle of Passchendaele in October. At
the end of January 1918 William was granted a short leave in
England. It was on his return in March, when the Battalion was
involved in the Somme crossings, that William was probably
gassed.
He went initially to the Australian Hospital at Rouen but was
sent back to the military hospital in Leicester at the end of March
where he stayed until 1st May.
The Stamford & Rutland News of 10th April 1918 reports:-
“Kings Cliffe. Mr H. Harker has paid a visit to Leicester Hospital, to see
his son Corporal William Harker, who was gassed. He is progressing
satisfactorily.”
On release from hospital he had nine days leave back in Kings
Cliffe. He did not go back to the front but served the rest of
the war in England until he was demobilised at the end of
September 1919.
Whilst still in the army he married Sophy Elizabeth Smith of
Hertford.
It is likely that they later moved to Peterborough and had three
children, Michael born 1921, John born 1923 and Ellen born
1926. He died in Peterborough in 1946.
HAWKE Thomas Simpkin
Possibly Private 53189 Royal Army Medical Corps
Thomas was born in 1880 in Hallaton, Leicestershire, to George
and Mary Ann Hawke of Hallaton.
He was a veteran of the Boer War.
He moved to Kings Cliffe soon after his marriage to Margaret
Peberdy in 1905. He worked in the village as a plumber and
decorator, probably for his uncle Edwin, and lived on Park
Street.
He rejoined the army and went to France on 17th May 1915. He
was discharged in Nov 1917, possibly from illness.
He died in Hallaton in 1958 after falling on to an electric fire.
93
