Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Flanders | Panel 6 and 8. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.125 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 57D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Mentioned in Despatches Queen's South Africa Medal King's South African Campaign Medal Delhi Durbar Medal 1914 (Mons) Star British War Medal Victory Medal | ||
Family :
Born 1879, son of Robert Kirkman Hodgson, J.P., D.L, and Lady Honora Janet Hodgson (nee Boyle), of 78 and later 13, Eaton Terrace, London, S.W.1.Educted at Eton and Sandhurst Military College.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers |
4th Battalion August 1914 : in Parkhurst (Isle of Wight). Part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. Landed at Le Havre 13 August 1914. |
| Action : The Battle of Neuve Chapelle and subsidiary actions |
Following a winter in the trenches the BEF was prepared to take the offensive against the Germans. The location was Neuve Chapelle, a small village in the front line below Aubers Ridge near Lille. Aubers Ridge was a low but significant hill and the intention at Neuve Chappell was to punch through the German front line, occupy the ridge and exploit with cavalry. It was a battle fought by two Corps of the BEF, the Indian Corps and IV Corps both largely consisting of regular battalions. It was to be preceded by the most violent artillery barrage of the war to date. Unfortunately in what was to be the start of the 'learning curve' for the BEF the artillery barrage, whilst violent, failed in some parts ? a failure that was to be costly and which delayed the assault and allowed the Germans to recover. Whilst the men were exceptionally brave they became bogged down as German machine guns and artillery stopped the momentum of the assault and by the end of the first day (10th March 1915) they were digging in. The following day the assault was repeated with fresh battalions but with no success. By the 12th March the Germans had recovered their poise, had brought in reserves and were ready to counter attack.
Neuve Chapelle (10-12 March 1915) was the first planned offensive battle by the BEF in France and achieved limited tactical success but not the expected breakthrough. It highlighted the problem of delay in execution that allowed the defending Germans to regroup, often consequent on small incidents and errors. Having stabilised the situation following the German sweep into France and the counter attack that eventually established static trench warfare on the western front, there was significant pressure on Britain to take a share of the burden from the French (who had without question had born the brunt of the fighting). Although the battle was effectively over by 12th March, the official battle nomenclature included actions in other sectors up to 22 April 1915 including the significant actions at St Eloi and at Hill 60 (Ypres).
Detail :
He was commissioned on the 11th October 1899 to serve in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusilers. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1900. Served in the Boer War. He received his captaincy in May 1907 and served as Aide-de-Camp to Lord Carmichael, the Governer-General of Bengal.
In WW1, he was assigned to the Western Front with his regiment, but was transferred to the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI). He returend to his own regiment, but to serve in the 4th Battalion and was killed in action near Ypres on the 18th March 1915.
For his service he received the Queen's and the Kings South Africa Medals. He was stationed in India and received the Delhi Durbar Medal and in the Great War, as an "Old Contemptible" received Pip, Squeak and Wilfred: The 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory medal. He was also mentioned in despatches in 1902.
His brother Capt. Maurice Kirkman Hodgson also fell. Lieutenant, 2nd Royal Fusiliers (1905). Captain, Secunderabad (1908-12). Servied with 1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment).
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Lodge Concordia No. 3102 E.C. | Devonshire |
| Joined : | Alma No. 3534 E.C. | Middlesex |
| Joined : | Golconda No. 3249 E.C. | Madras |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
6th December 1905 | 23rd December 1905 | 7th February 1906 |
Resigned from Concordia Lodge No.3102 located in Calcutta, his mother lodge on 30th April 1908. His resignation is probably on posting as he is seen to join Golconda Lodge No. 3249, Secunderabad, Madras on the 10th July 1908. Further joined Alma Lodge No. 3534 at Hounslow on April 17th 1912 again posted for Home Service with the 2nd Battalion, Royal (Irish?) Fusiliers.
His familial brother Patrick was also a Freemason.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley