Richard Morrison Hawkes enlisted on 13 January, 1916. He was nearly 31 years old, a clerk, 5'7" tall, with blue eyes and brown hair. He had married on 1 July, 1910, in Melbourne and, at the time of his enlistment, his wife, Adelaide Margaret Hawkes (nee (Short), was living at 122 Wellington Parade. The couple had one child, Edna Gladys Hawkes, born 1911, died 2001. Afer training, Hawkes was attached to the 1st Pioneer Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements, an infantry and light engineer unit, formed in Egypt in March 1916, one of five pioneer battalions raised as part of plans to expand the strength of the AIF in preparation for transfer to Europe and the Western Front. The Pioneers were trained as infantrymen with light combat functions in the field, with a large number possessing skills from civilian life.  Hawkes does not seem to fit into this category, but perhaps, given his age, clerking had not always been his occupation.

The 1st Pioneers left Australia on board the Ceramic on 14 April 1916, sailing first to Egypt. On 7 August, Hawkes was charged with being AWL from 20 July to 7 August, presumably while he was in Egypt. He was given 9 days detention, but this doesn't seem to have worried him. At Perham Camp in England, he was charged again for breaking camp without leave from 1 October to 20 October, for which he was fined 40 days pay. 

From there, Richard Hawkes was sent to France, where 1st Pioneers were engaged in every action on the Western Front, supporting the First Division behind the lines. They served at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in 1916, Bullecourt and the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917 and the Spring Offensieve of 1918.  On 17 January, 1917, he was dmitted to hospital in France with scabies. Again, following release, he went AWL from 30 November to 1 December, forfeiting 2 days pay. 

He returned to the front, but on 8 April, 1917, Hawkes was ill with influenza and was sent back to England to the Norfolk War Hospital. Following his discharge from hospital, he seems to have been stationed in England at Sutton Veny, and again went AWL from 27 December 1917 to 3 March, 1918. On 9 June, he was back in France and served at the Base Depot attached to the 4th Divisional Train in Havre. 

He was returned to Australia on board the Czyanitya on 16 March 1919. he died on 23 November 1944, aged 54 and is buried at the St Kilda Cemetery.