Frederick George Hodges

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Sooramingalum, Madras, India
Death	9 May 1951
Place of Death	West Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	41 years, 5 months
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall; weight 126 lbs (57.2 kg); dark complexion, blue eyes, brown hair
Occupation	gardener
Religion	Church of England
Address	Karragullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Frances Constance Hodges
Military Information
Reg Number	2168
Date of Enlistment	22 Jul 1915
Rank	Gunner
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements transferred to 2nd Division Z2A Trench Mortar Battery
Date of Embarkation	4 Oct 1915 - unknown at Port Suez
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A20 Hororata
Date of Return	28 Feb 1919 - 7 Apr 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A68 Anchises
Fate	Wounded in Action 7 Aug 1916 near Poziéres Wounded in Action (gassed) 22 Mar 1918 at Messines
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel)
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

In 1904 Fred married Frances Constance Hanbury in Kelmscott. Electoral Roll entries - 1910 - 1916 "Hengistbury" Kelmscott, gardener,with his wife.

War Service

Marched into Blackboy Hill camp on 27 Jul 1915 and on 16 Aug 1915 was far enough advanced in his training to be allocated to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.

Soon after arrival in Egypt Fred was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion (19 Jan 1916). Three months later on 22 Apr 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Division's Trench Mortar Battery as part of the AIF wide reorganisation to create additional Divisions.

On 9 Jun 1916 Fred's Mortar unit was engaged in wire cutting, firing 9 rounds in 8 minutes despite being under severe retaliatory fire; their mortar misfiring three times, and being short handed. Fred was one of the crew recommended for an award, but the recommendation from Brigadier General Johnston does not seem to have been accepted by higher HQ.

On 7 Aug 1916 Fred's Trench Mortar Battery was heavily shelled by the Germans and his wounds were most probably caused during this bombardment. Recovered from his wounds, from 25 Mar to 6 Apr 1917 he is detached to the 1st Anzac Trench Mortar School for instruction, and the day after he rejoined his unit he was sent on to the 2nd Division's Signal School for instruction. Fred rejoined the Trench Mortars on 30 Apr 1917.

On 22 Mar 1918 Fred was Wounded in Action for a second time, being gassed and was treated by the 30th General Hospital at Calais. Recovered, he is released to the Australian General Base Depot on 8 Apr 1918 and from there posted to the 2nd Division Ammunition Column on 25 Apr 1918, where two days later he is posted to the 4th Australian Medium Trench Mortar Battery.

Granted leave to England on 23 Sep 1918, he rejoined his unit in France briefly before transferring back to England on 29 Jan 1919, Australia bound. Bypassing Fremantle, the Honorata dropped Fred at Albany on 7 Apr 1919.

Discharged 6 Jun 1919 at 5th Military District

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 26 "Shellburst" Group 84, Airdale, settler (10km from Manjimup); 1936 - 37 Blue Wren Cottage, Maddington; 1943 Kalamunda; 1949 at 183 Colin street, West Perth.

Frances is buried with Fred at Karrakatta and although her age is given as 75, her date of death is not recorded.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial