{"product_id":"welsh-field-ambulance-royal-army-medical-corps-ramc-ww1-british-silver-war-badge","title":"Welsh Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps RAMC WW1 British Silver War Badge","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War British Silver War Badge - Private Percy Hawkins, 2nd Welsh Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eSilver War Badge - \u003cb\u003eB211317\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePercy Hawkins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e18 January 1896\u003c\/b\u003e in Pontycymmer, Glamorgan, the son of Richard and Margaret Hawkins. Raised in the industrial heart of South Wales, Percy grew up amid the hard realities of coalfield life. By \u003cb\u003e1911\u003c\/b\u003e, aged only \u003cb\u003e15\u003c\/b\u003e, he was already working as a \u003cb\u003ecoal miner\u003c\/b\u003e while living with relatives in Station Street, Maesteg—typical of boys from the valleys whose working lives began early.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBut even before war broke out, Percy’s path was already turning away from the pits. In \u003cb\u003e1912\u003c\/b\u003e, at just sixteen, he enlisted as a \u003cb\u003eTerritorial soldier\u003c\/b\u003e with the \u003cb\u003eWelsh Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps\u003c\/b\u003e. This pre-war enlistment is confirmed not only by the silver war badge roll but by a surviving \u003cb\u003ephotograph of him in RAMC uniform (Ancestry)\u003c\/b\u003e, showing both the \u003cb\u003eRed Cross badge on his sleeve\u003c\/b\u003e and the coveted \u003cb\u003eImperial Service Badge\u003c\/b\u003e on his chest. The Imperial Service Badge was worn exclusively by Territorial soldiers who had volunteered for overseas service in the event of war—evidence that Percy had offered himself for full mobilisation long before August 1914.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWhen the Great War came, Percy was already trained, uniformed, and ready. He mobilised with the RAMC and later served overseas under the regimental number \u003cb\u003e366033\u003c\/b\u003e, attached to the \u003cb\u003e2nd Welsh Field Ambulance\u003c\/b\u003e. Their duties were among the harshest of the war: manning regimental aid posts, carrying stretchers under fire, clearing wounded from the front line, performing emergency treatment, and keeping men alive long enough to reach casualty clearing stations. The Welsh RAMC Territorials developed a strong reputation for endurance and courage, working constantly in mud, shellfire, and disease-ridden conditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eLike many RAMC men, Percy’s health suffered from the strain. He was eventually discharged on \u003cb\u003e15 May 1919\u003c\/b\u003e, holding the rank of \u003cb\u003eLance Corporal\u003c\/b\u003e. His Silver War Badge (\u003cb\u003eB211317\u003c\/b\u003e) confirms that he had served overseas and that his discharge was due to sickness contracted in the line of duty.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAfter returning home, Percy did not go back to the mines. Instead, he built on his wartime medical experience and entered civilian healthcare. By \u003cb\u003e1921\u003c\/b\u003e, he was working as a \u003cb\u003eMale Mental Nurse\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eGlamorgan County Asylum\u003c\/b\u003e, Angleton, Bridgend—one of the largest psychiatric institutions in Wales. The \u003cb\u003e1921 Census\u003c\/b\u003e records him as head of household at \u003cb\u003e28 Cawbridge End, Bridgend\u003c\/b\u003e, married to \u003cb\u003eLilian Maud Deere\u003c\/b\u003e, whom he wed in 1920, with their first child born the following year.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePercy continued to rise within the mental health service. By \u003cb\u003e1939\u003c\/b\u003e, he was employed as a \u003cb\u003eCharge Male Mental Nurse\u003c\/b\u003e, living at Rhyd Cottages near the asylum grounds. His career in mental healthcare spanned decades and shows how RAMC veterans often became the backbone of institutional medical work in post-war Britain: disciplined, experienced, and able to handle difficult conditions with patience and professionalism.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePercy Hawkins died in \u003cb\u003eApril 1958\u003c\/b\u003e in Bridgend, aged 62. From coal miner to pre-war Territorial, from wartime medical service to a lifetime caring for the vulnerable in Wales’s psychiatric hospitals, his life reflects commitment, resilience, and service in both war and peace.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52876271321434,"sku":null,"price":42.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251025_113727.png?v=1764323874","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/welsh-field-ambulance-royal-army-medical-corps-ramc-ww1-british-silver-war-badge","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}