Private Joseph Anthony Hawker, came from Brierley Hill in the West Midlands and joined the Paras at the same time as Bryan Dodsworth at the Wolverhampton Recruiting Office.Both Joe and Bryan served with The 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA) and took part in the  deployment to Cyprus during the EOKA campaign in 1956.

In Cyprus Joe served in the Battalion's Motor Transport (MT) Platoon of Headquarters Company and worked as the driver for Captain Michael Beagley.

Joe and Mike perished in a fire during Operation Lucky Alphonse in the Troodos Mountains

Private Joe Hawker died on 17 June 1956, aged 19 years old. He is now buried at Waynes Keep Cemetery, Cyprus.