Harry Hodgson

Harry Hodgson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire, England
Age at Enlistment	25 years, 2 months
Description	5'4½" (1.64m) tall ; 113lbs 51.256 kg ; sallow complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Metal tradesman
Religion	Non Conformist
Address	Post Office, Maddington
Next of Kin	Father , Mr GW Hodgson
Military Information
Reg Number	1765
Date of Enlistment	18 Jan 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	12th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement, transferred to 1st Machine Gun Battalion
Date of Embarkation	19 Apr 1915 ‒ ?? May 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A15 Star of England
Date of Return	4 Jul 1919 ‒ 15 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Dunvegan Castle
Fate	WIA 12 Jul 1915 Gallipoli Returned to Australia
Monument	none at present
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

A month after entering camp, Harry was allotted to the 4th reinforcement draft for the 12th Battalion and travelled with them to Egypt.

At some point he was embarked in Alexandria for Gallipoli as he was taken on strength by the 12th Battalion on 26 May 1915 at Gallipoli. On 12 Jul 1915 he was wounded when a shell caused the trench he was in to collapse on him and others, most of whom were killed. Harry was dug out, but suffered a broken rib, contusions to his back and 'shock'. He vomited blood for two days and had severe dysentery at the same time. Placed aboard HMHS Gascon the same day, he was evacuated to Malta arriving there on 18 Jul 1915 where he was admitted to the Floriana Hospital.

Evacuated to England aboard SS Somali on 20 Aug 1915, he arrived in England on 27 Aug 1915 where he was admitted to King George's Hospital in Stamford street, London. Harry was released on 25 Oct 1915 to a period of furlough. On 17 Nov 1915 he was again in hospital, this time the 3rd London General Hospital, suffering with a loose cartilage in his right knee. Released on 31 Dec 1915 to 'Brooklands' before being discharged to duty on 2 Mar 1916. Harry returned to Egypt on 25 Mar 1916.

On 4 May 1916 he embarked in Alexandria on HMT Caledonia for Marseilles in France. By 20 May 1916 he had reached the 1st Division's Base Depot in Étaples and on 30 Jun 1916 he was transferred to the 3rd Machine Gun Company (later part of the 1st Machine Gun Battalion). Taken on strength on 14 Aug 1916, he enjoyed leave in the UK from 8 Aug - 20 Aug 1917 and then Paris from 18 Mar - 27 Mar 1918.

On 10 Apr 1918 he was seen by the 1st Field Ambulance and the 47th Casualty Clearing Station and diagnosed as suffering with gingivitis, before being passed on to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station. On 23 May 1918 he was placed aboard Ambulance Train No. 41 for Rouen and the 5th General Hospital. Harry was evacuated to England on 31 May 1918 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda suffering with influenza. On arrival he was admitted to the Mile End Military Hospital in London on 2 Jun 1918, before being released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 14 Jun 1918.

Granted furlough from 17 Jun 1918, he reported to the No.4 Command Depot in Hurdcott where on 3 Jul 1918 he was charged with being AWOL for 2 hours on 1 Jul 1918, for which he was admonished. He reported sick to the Camp Hospital on 15 Aug 1918, and on 26 Sep 1918 Harry married May Wilson in Freckleton.

At Hurdcott on 7 Oct 1918 he was again charged with being AWOL (6-7 Oct 1918) for which he was awarded 3 days Confined to barracks and the loss of a day's pay. Harry is again positioned to return to France by being sent to the Overseas Training Battalion, but instead is transferred to the Machine Gun Training Depot at Heytesbury. On 21 Feb 1919 he was preparing for a discharge in the UK, but on 25 Mar 1919 he was AWOL, and he was declared to be an illegal absentee on 3 May 1919. However, Harry returned to the fold on 27 May 1919 and returned to Australia (most probably unaccompanied as in 1921 he had returned to live in Freckleton, Lancashire.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 14 Oct 1919.