Colonel Hawker's Shooting Diaries - Edited with an Introduction

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He was born in 1848, shortly before Peter Hawker died, and his heyday was during the last third of the 19th century.

He led his squadron in the Battle of Douro (6 May 1809), his regiment thereby earning the battle honour "Douro" for its colours. The 1988 abridged version runs to over 750 pages in two volumes and in addition to wildfowling notes includes many insights into the ways of life of local inhabitants, weather patterns, wildlife and happenings in the wider world. deyo for item diaryofcolonelpe01hawk on April 8, 2008: no visible notice of copyright; stated date is 1893.The allure continues with Golden Leaf Printing that adds a touch of elegance, while Hand Embossing on the rounded spine lends an artistic flair. He was even mildly criticised by Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, who described Hawker as "something of an egotist" albeit a "good-natured" one) in the introduction to the 1893 edition of the diary.

The only point I would disagree with was the nature of his wound as Hawker says a ball passed through the hip bone severly shattering it, he later had several splinters of bone removed. Hawker's musket was favourably received by the Board of Ordnance, but it was not adopted, being set aside in preference to the Enfield Rifle-Musket, although elements of Hawker's design were incorporated into the final version of the Enfield. During active service in the Peninsula War (1807-1814), he received a serious thigh wound and was declared unfit for service, awarded an annual pension and 'sold' his commission.He received a serious thigh wound during the following battle of Talavera (28 July 1809) and was consequently declared unfit and so resigned and sold his commission. Two of our most noted authors from times past, on the subject of shooting, Colonel Peter Hawker and Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey were among them.