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Corporal Ernest Hawke
Description
TitleCorporal Ernest HawkeSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionErnest was a true Anzac being born in Pioneer, Tasmania on 6 May 1882. He was the son of William and Johannah Hawke of Launceston, Tasmania, and husband of Annie Hawke. Ernest was 5ft 10in tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and a tattoo on his left forearm. At the time of enlistment he was a School Teacher working for the Canterbury Education Board as School Master at Ellesmere School. He was a keen cricketer, playing for Springston.
Ernest enlisted 14 August 1914 at Leeston and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. He already had military experience as he had served 10 years with the Territorial Militia so was made a Lance Corporal. He embarked with the Main Body and left from Lyttleton on 16 October 1914. Corporal Hawke was reported as missing in action and then as having been killed in action 1st or 2nd May. He would have been just about to celebrate his 33rd birthday. He was probably killed during an attack on Dead Man's Ridge (Pope's Hill). He is buried in the Walker’s Ridge Cemetery. In New Zealand Ernest is remembered on the Springston War Memorial.
The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 25 April, Walker's Ridge was the post of command of Brigadier-General Walker, then commanding the New Zealand Infantry Brigade. It was held by a mixed force until 27 April, when the New Zealanders took it over. A Turkish attempt to take the ridge on 30 June was repulsed by the 8th and 9th Australian Light Horse. The cemetery was made during the occupation and consists of two plots separated by 18 metres of ground, through which a trench ran. There are now 92 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 16 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate 26 soldiers known or believed to be buried in the cemetery.First NameErnestLast NameHawkeFamilyMarried to Annie Hawke Son of William and Johannah Hawke of Launceston, TasmaniaDate of Birth6 May 1882Place of DeathGallipoliCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death33
Ernest enlisted 14 August 1914 at Leeston and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. He already had military experience as he had served 10 years with the Territorial Militia so was made a Lance Corporal. He embarked with the Main Body and left from Lyttleton on 16 October 1914. Corporal Hawke was reported as missing in action and then as having been killed in action 1st or 2nd May. He would have been just about to celebrate his 33rd birthday. He was probably killed during an attack on Dead Man's Ridge (Pope's Hill). He is buried in the Walker’s Ridge Cemetery. In New Zealand Ernest is remembered on the Springston War Memorial.
The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 25 April, Walker's Ridge was the post of command of Brigadier-General Walker, then commanding the New Zealand Infantry Brigade. It was held by a mixed force until 27 April, when the New Zealanders took it over. A Turkish attempt to take the ridge on 30 June was repulsed by the 8th and 9th Australian Light Horse. The cemetery was made during the occupation and consists of two plots separated by 18 metres of ground, through which a trench ran. There are now 92 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 16 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate 26 soldiers known or believed to be buried in the cemetery.First NameErnestLast NameHawkeFamilyMarried to Annie Hawke Son of William and Johannah Hawke of Launceston, TasmaniaDate of Birth6 May 1882Place of DeathGallipoliCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death33
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageSpringston War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryWalker’s Ridge CemeterySpringston War Memorial Occupation before EnlistingSchool Master Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details14th August 1914 at LeestonService Number6/57Embarkation16th October 1914Place of EmbarkationLyttelton
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Corporal Ernest Hawke. Selwyn Stories, accessed 23/07/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/363