TOPIC:

Hi. My grandfather - Hawkins, Bertram Austin Private QSA, - was awarded a medal for the Siege of Kimberley and also one for his involvement at Mafeking. He was possibly also involved at the Koffiefontein concentration camp, where he supposedly met my grandmother, one Miss Bosman. I am finding it difficult to obtain much information about his background. I will appreciate any sources that could help me with this.

Hi Tony

His estate papers are available from the Cape Town Archives.
He died in 1919.
Regards

Adrian

DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/1367
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 342
PART 1
DESCRIPTION HAWKINS, BERTRAM AUSTIN. ESTATE PAPERS.
STARTING 19190000
ENDING 19190000

Hi Tony

Also:

Served No 1 Redoubt. Also served Scot's Railway Guards from 11 Feb 1901 (from David Biggin's book on Kimberley.

Bertram Austin Hawkins born c. 1875, mineworker and soldier - Cape Rifles. Died 16 Oct 1918 Wynberg. Married Anna (Annie) Jacoba Maria Bosman (b. 24 May 1881 - d. 25 Jul 1968 Kimberley)


Regards

Adrian

Hi Tony

And lastly, he actually died on 15 Oct 1918. The CWWGC gives the following info::

Rank:Lance CorporalService No:7398Date of Death:15/10/1918Regiment/Service:9th Infantry (Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Cape Peninsula Rifles)Grave Reference:Bl. UO. 15.Cemetery:CAPE TOWN (PLUMSTEAD) CEMETERY

The photo of his grave is on eGGSA.

Thanks a million Adrian. I knew that he died in Cape Town, in the great flu epidemic, and that he was buried in the Plumstead cemetery, but had no clue about the rest of the info. Thanks once more, you are a star.

Hello Tony,

Just a small bit of further info for you.

According to the 9th Infantry (Cape Peninsula Rifles) records held in Pretoria he attested into the CPR on the 01/11/1915 and his last known address at that time was 54 New Church Street, Cape Town.

Regards
Adrian

P/S as my name sake mentions, here is a picture of his head stone from the military section of the Plumstead Cemetery in Cape Town.