Notes
His biography on the college website (see references) states: ‘David was born in London the younger son of Anthony Hope Hawkins and his wife Elizabeth Somerville Sheldon. His father was better known as Anthony Hope. He was a playwright and author best known for “The Prisoner of Zenda” [1894] and its sequel “Rupert of Hentzau” [1898]. The author Kenneth Grahame was his first cousin. On the return journey from his second tour of America, he met Elizabeth Somerville, daughter of Charles Henry Sheldon, of New York. She was twenty years younger than him. They were married, soon after, in London on July 1st 1903, and had a daughter in 1905 and a son, the following year. His father was knighted in 1918 for his contribution to propaganda during the War. The family lived at 41 Bedford Square which bears a Blue Plaque. Later, they moved to Heath Farm, Walton-on-the Hill.
Like his father who died in 1933, he was educated at Marlborough. At the end of that year, David went to New York and returned to Plymouth on January 1st 1934. Whilst at school, he was a Cadet Under-Officer in the Junior Division of the College’s OTC. He Matriculated in 1934 and read PPE, graduating in 1938. He joined the army and was gazetted Second Lieutenant on August 12th 1938. It is not known when he transferred to the Royal Air Force. He was killed whilst on a training flight on June 3rd 1941. He was serving as a Pilot Officer with 226 Squadron which had moved to Wattisham, Suffolk, the previous month.
He is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery Plot 25. A. 1. His mother died five years later.'