John Plunkett Verney Hawksley was born in 1878 in Tenby, Pembrokeshire. He was the son of James Taylor Hawksley and Emily Julia, of Caldy Island, Pembrokeshire.

In the 1891 census John was a scholar.

John Hawksley joined the army and served in the South African and Sudan Campaigns (South Kordofan, 1910). John rose to become Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Field Artillery. He lived at Thorpe Place, Chertsey, Surrey. John had received the Order of Osmanieh (4th Class) and the D S O, and was mentioned three times in despatches.

John was 38 when he was killed August 8, 1916. He is commemorated at Becourt Military Cemetery, Becordel - Becourt.

John's elder sister, Muriel Emily married Robert Bradley Summerson of Hall Garth, Coatham Mundeville. Muriel applied for her brother's 1914 Star.

Muriel and her husband administered her brother's will. He had effects of £8,208 9s. 9d.