Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

Five: Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Hawks, Indian Army

China 1900, no clasp (Captn., S. & T. Corps); 1914 Star (Major, I.A.); British War and Victory Medals 1914-20 (Major); Delhi Durbar 1903, privately inscribed, ‘Capt. F. W. Hawks, Divl. Trans. Offr., 1st Infy. Divn., 1902-03’, this last fitted with silver riband buckle, contact marks and edge nicks, otherwise generally very fine and scarce (5) £400-500

Frederick Welman Hawks, who was born in October 1870, was originally commissioned into the North Lancashire Regiment in September 1889, transferred to the Indian Army in August 1891 and was appointed to the Supply and Transport Corps in May 1893.

He subsequently witnessed active service with the China Field Force as a Commissariat and Transport Officer in the Cavalry Brigade from August 1900 to June 1901, and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 14 May 1901), in addition to becoming a member of the American Order of the Military Dragon (published roll of 1912 refers). And in 1903 for his services as a Divisional Transport Officer in Delhi, he was awarded the Durbar Medal.

Having retired in November 1911, Hawks was recalled from the Indian Army Reserve of Officers on the outbreak of hostilities, re-appointed to the rank of Major in September 1914 and went to France as a Transport Officer, I.A. Latterly a ‘Deputy Assistant Director of Labour Class F.F.’, Hawks was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1918 and reverted to the Retired List at the end of hostilities.