Sapper, Billy Hodgson, RE's

BORN SCARBOROUGH 10/10/1896. OLDEST SON OF WILLIAM HODGSON (1871-1938) & ELIZABETH HODGSON, (1874-1953), OF 100, WASSAND STREET, HULL. SON OF A FISH SMOKER. ELDEST OF SIX CHILDREN. HE HAD ONE BROTHER AND FOUR SISTERS.  EMPLOYED AS A BOILER MAKER APPRENTICE (1911 CENSUS). HE RESIDED AT 15, HENRY'S TERRACE, WASSAND STREET, HULL.

HE ENLISTED IN HULL. ARRIVED IN FRANCE ON 28/08/1915. SERVED AS A SAPPER, IN THE ROYAL ENGINEERS, 128TH FIELD COMPANY. ACCIDENTALLY KILLED ON 26/10/1915, AGED 20. HE SUFFOCATED WHEN A TRENCH COLLAPSED ON HIM. IT TOOK 15 MINUTES TO EXTRACT HIM AND HE COULD NOT BE RESUSSITATED. HE HAD BEEN IN THE ARMY FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND AT THE FRONT FOR THREE MONTHS.

UNMARRIED. HE LEFT BROTHERS & SISTERS AT THIS WAR PENSION ADDRESS. HE IS BURIED AT X FARM CEMETERY, LA CHAPELLE-D'ARMENTIERES. HIS FAMILY GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, "HE DIED A BRITISH HERO".

HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS MOTHER, WHO MOVED TO NICHOLAS ROAD, GREAT YARMOUTH.

Spr William Hodgson, Death Date 26 Oct 1915, Burial Place: Departement du Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Thank You to Elaine Lunn, on 9/10/15, for the above information on her Great Uncle Billy. Her Granny being one of his sisters.

lewnny65@lenny65.karoo.co.uk]