Captain Charles Hawes

Born on 30 April 1834 at Bhaugulpore in India, Charles Ward Hawes was the son of merchant William Hawes and his wife Louisa Anne née Harington.

On 24 April 1862 ‘at the parish church, Twickenham […] Captain Charles Ward Hawes, of the Guides, H.M.’s Indian Army, [married] Maria Elinor, only child of the late William Atkins, Esq. of Ashcote House, Somerset, and granddaughter of the Hon. John Petty Ward’ (Sherborne Mercury, 29 April 1862).

He appears on the 1891 census living with his wife and their three daughters Ethel (23), Beryl (20) and Mabel (18) at 49 Brunswick Place in Hove, Sussex. The household included three live-in servants. Charles gave ‘Major H.M. Indian Army (retired)’ as his profession.

Major Charles Ward Hawes died on 1 April 1908 at Windsor Lodge in Torquay, Devon. He left an estate valued at £13,697.

‘MUTINY VETERAN DEAD — The death is announced from Torquay of Major Charles Ward Hawes, a well-known Indian Mutiny veteran. He joined the 43rd Regiment as an ensign, and was sent as adjutant to the “Guides” Corps, and made the famous triple marches to Delhi. He was wounded severely three times in various engagements, and subsequently became commandant of the “Guides” Cavalry. Major Hawes was also engaged in the Umbrella and other frontier campaigns. His four brothers, who are now dead, were all of them distinguished military officers’ (Ashborne New Telegraph, 10 April 1908).

Photographer by Bourne and Shepherd of Simla in India.

The reverse of the mount carries an inked inscription: ‘For my sister Maria / CWH / 7.2.70' [7 February 1870].