Thursday, November 11, 2010

HOOKINS Family at War


Some years ago I paid a visit to Violet HOOKINS who lived in Weston super Mare. She had some items belonging to her father which she was considering disposing of and I was delighted when she offered me this page from the Bath Herald printed during the First World War. It principally concerns members of the family of Frederick John HOOKINS (my grandfather) who were serving in the war. His father, 5 brothers and a brother in law are pictures in their regimental uniforms. Why Fred wasn't in the war I don't know yet. His father William and brothers Samuel and Willie are picures on the top row. William was apparently in charge of a Government mule depot, Samuel was a transport driver in the Army Service Corps and Willie was in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. The second row shows brothers Henry, Walter and Charlie. Henry and Walter were in the same regiment as Willie whilst Charlie was a Bombardier in the Field Artillery. Fred's brother in law, brother of his wife Emma, is the first of the bottom row and was in the 1st Somerset Light Infantry. He took part in the battle of Mons, was injured and taken prisoner of war and came from the well-known Cobb family in Bath who were renowned for their bread and cake shops in the city.

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