My Chatham Hero

A Grand daughter remembers. John T Hawes - Mayor of Chatham l938 to l945. Always known as "the sailor Mayor"
My Grandfather could have had no idea of the role that he would play "at the helm" of Chatham,leading its considerable war effort and having close ties with the Navy and Dockyard.
Why "sailor" mayor? - he joined the Navy in about l894, lying about his age. He signed on as an Armourer. He saw service in the Dardenelles, Trincomalee, and on the China Station. One of his ships was the H.M.S Barham but happily he had left the Navy before that brave ship was torpedoed in l942. On leaving the Navy after the first World War he took up residence in Chatham. He entered politics in l93l, was elected to the Council and became Mayor in l938.
He bore an uncanny resemblance to Charles Dickens - this endeared him to the Medway Towns because of its close links with Dickens and he took many a role as Dickens. The Pageant of l932 in the grounds of Rochester Castle being the most notable. In l94O I was present at the launching of HMS Umpire, a U class submarine. My Grandmother performed the ceremony and very moving it was standing high on No 7 Slip in the Dockyard with the cheers of the dockyard mates ringing in our ears. Sadly Umpire met a tragic end being rammed by a "friendly" ship in the North sea
His work for charities and the war effort was prodigious. Enough money was raised for Chatham to have its own Spitfire. Jack Buchanan organised a dance at the Town Hall and raised £39 for this Fund. 2OO guineas were sent to General Dobbie to aid Malta after its bombing ordeal. General Dobbie had been a former popular G.O.C of the Chatham area and of course hundreds of Chatham men had close links with that brave island.
Civil Defence was a high priority at Chatham and the nerve centre of its operation was in the bowels of the Town Hall. One day I was taken down to view this area and had the thrill of pressing the button that sounded the All Clear on the roof of the Town Hall.
Chatham did not receive a "pasting" from the Luftwaffa as Lord Haw Haw was always reminding us that Chatham was going to be one of Germany's prime bases. How I remember being scared to death when the Navy guns opened up, one in particular called "Big Bertha" shook the windows of our house.
Just prior to the war farmland and buildings had been bought by the Council at Capstone, just on the outskirts of Chatham. Naturally the need to grow food was given priority and my Grandfather took a great interest in all this and I have many photos of him holding up young pigs, examining potato clamps etc.
In my scrapbook I have the following account taken from the local paper
"Turkey, chicken, pork, beef, vegetables, drinks, cigarettes and cigars to follow"
This was a Christmas party given by
the staff of British Home Stores in Chatham early in the war to 5O servicemen. Dancing in the store to a gramophone, what memories those chaps took away to war with them, many were Canadians. Well done BHS. Looking through my scrapbook I find it incredible that so many social dances etc., in full eveniing dress were held during the war. All of course in aid of good causes, but just amazing that this side of life still took place in war time. He was at the Town Hall every day during the war and was an inspiration to the whole town. I feel very proud and grateful that I could share in so many of the events of a town at war. John T Hawes, a wonderful man and Grandfather.

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