While studying medicine at St. Mary's Hospital, he assisted at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as a voluntary medical student.

The Desmond Hawkins award, a bursary to assist medial students in studies abroad, is named in his honour.

While studying medicine at St. Mary's Hospital, during the Second World War, he assisted casualties from the Normandy landings, and later at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as a voluntary medical student.

[1] He married Margaret, whom he met during his time on the south coast while assisting servicemen at the Normandy D-day landings.

[1] The Desmond Hawkins award, a bursary to assist medial students in studies abroad, is named in his honour.