Teenage soldier to be awarded medal more than 60 years after his death
A teenage soldier who died more than six decades ago in a war on terror is to finally be recognised for his service.
Joseph Anthony Hawker, from Brierley Hill, was one of almost 400 British servicemen who died attempting to put down terrorists in Cyprus in 1956.
Called up under conscription, Pte Hawker was one of a group of soldiers hurriedly sent to the then-British colony to help island police deal with National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters.
But during an operation to capture its leader Georgios Grivas, Pte Hawker died in a woodland fire caused by a mortar bomb.
The 19-year-old’s death was discovered by his family living in Brierley Hill in the pages of a newspaper.
Now, on Tuesday, Keith Hawker, the one surviving sibling of Pte Hawker’s seven brothers and sisters, will receive The Elizabeth Cross on his behalf.
It will be presented by John Crabtree OBE, The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, in Dudley.
Mr Hawker, aged 76, said: “It will be a very emotional day for me.
“It will bring some closure to his death, it is just so sad I’m the only one left in the family to finally see it.
“I’m the last man standing, it is a big shame this did not come many years ago.”
Pte Hawker was born in Lower Valley Road in Brierley Hill and attended Hawbush School. He left aged 15 and went to work for Stuart Glassworks in Brierley Hill.
But he was called up to national service in 1956, joining hundreds of serviceman to serve in the four-year Cyprus Emergency.
As part of the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, Pte Hawker job was to assist island police in taking out the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters.
But in an operation named Lucy Alphonse, when British troops had the group and its leader Mr Grivas trapped in woodland, Pte Hawker died in a fierce fire.
It was set alight by a mortar bomb explosion. Pte Hawker, who had only been called up four months before, was buried at Wayne’s Keep – the British Military Cemetery on the island. Brother Mr Hawker said: “I was 14 at the time and I heard about his death while coming back from Brierley Hill on the bus. We saw my sister and she said in the newspaper they were reporting that he was one of 19 soldiers who had died. We were devastated.
“Only weeks before he had written a letter saying he was enjoying serving on the island, but said he knew where weapons used against the British were being hidden.”
Pte Hawker had seven siblings – Derrick, Keith, Gordan, Christine, Cynthia, Stephanie and Janet. But Keith is the sole survivor.
He said: “At the time the neighbours in the street raised money to bring his body home. But at the time the Red Cross would not allow it, so the money was used instead to purchase an organ in his name for the church in Hawbush Road.” The organ, however, was removed from church as part of a refurbishment in the 1980s.
At Tuesday’s ceremony at Alamein House, Mr Hawker will be joined by his wife and brother Gordon’s wife Jane.
The Elizabeth Cross is an award given to members of the British Armed Forces killed in action. It is granted to the next of kin.
