Cpl
John William Hodges
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1893 |
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Place of birth: Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Worcester, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 9419 |
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Enlistment place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 21/10/1914 |
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Place of death: New Houses, Langemark, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 39A |
Distinctions and medals 4
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1914 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Distinguished Conduct Medal Medal — 17/12/1914 |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
John William Hodges was born in 1896 in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. He was the son of Frederick and Mary Annie Hodges. He enlisted in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. John William served as a corporal in the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, part of the 5th Brigade, of the 2nd Division.
At 6:45 a.m. on the 20th of October 1914 the 5th Brigade marched from Elverdige to Pilkem, where they took position in an entrenched position from a point 1 mile southeast of Pilkem to Steenstraat. The the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry took up the trench near Pilkem about two thirds of the way towards Steenstraat.
On October 21st the 1st Division attacked Poelcapelle from Langemark and the 2nd Division on their right attacked Passchendaele. The 2nd Division attacked with the 5th Brigade on the left and the 4th Guards Brigade on the right. Within the 5th Brigade the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was placed on the left and the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment on the right. The 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry and 2nd Battalion the Connaught Rangers were in support on the left and right respectively. Before the attack the 2nd Battalion Oxfords and Bucks Light Infantry were deployed along the road between Langemark and Zonnebeke.
The 2nd Division was able to advance, but the 1st Division was held up, opening the 2nd Division up to enfilade fire form the ridge east of Langemark. The 2nd Battalion Oxfords and Bucks Light Infantry advanced along the Lekkerboterbeek on their left until they reached the Stroombeek. The decision was made to dig in. Their war diary reports that enemy trenches could be about 275 metres (300 yards) in front of them. At night wounded were cleared from the battlefield. After the attack the war diary counted four officers and 61 men killed, six officers and 140 men wounded and 15 other ranks missing.
In the evenings of October 22nd and 23rd, 1914, the Germans counterattacked, but these counterattacks were routed. In the night between the 23rd and 24th the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was relieved by the French 125e régiment d'infanterie. Between the 22nd and 23rd of October 1914 nine men were killed and fifteen wounded.
John William Hodges, aged 21, was killed in action on October 21st, 1914. He was killed during the attack in the general area around of New Houses. On 17 December 1914 Corporal Hodges received a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions. His citation states: “For gallant conduct and very good work during the attack on 21st October.” Corporal Hodges has no known grave and is remembered on panel 39A of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
At 6:45 a.m. on the 20th of October 1914 the 5th Brigade marched from Elverdige to Pilkem, where they took position in an entrenched position from a point 1 mile southeast of Pilkem to Steenstraat. The the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry took up the trench near Pilkem about two thirds of the way towards Steenstraat.
On October 21st the 1st Division attacked Poelcapelle from Langemark and the 2nd Division on their right attacked Passchendaele. The 2nd Division attacked with the 5th Brigade on the left and the 4th Guards Brigade on the right. Within the 5th Brigade the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was placed on the left and the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment on the right. The 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry and 2nd Battalion the Connaught Rangers were in support on the left and right respectively. Before the attack the 2nd Battalion Oxfords and Bucks Light Infantry were deployed along the road between Langemark and Zonnebeke.
The 2nd Division was able to advance, but the 1st Division was held up, opening the 2nd Division up to enfilade fire form the ridge east of Langemark. The 2nd Battalion Oxfords and Bucks Light Infantry advanced along the Lekkerboterbeek on their left until they reached the Stroombeek. The decision was made to dig in. Their war diary reports that enemy trenches could be about 275 metres (300 yards) in front of them. At night wounded were cleared from the battlefield. After the attack the war diary counted four officers and 61 men killed, six officers and 140 men wounded and 15 other ranks missing.
In the evenings of October 22nd and 23rd, 1914, the Germans counterattacked, but these counterattacks were routed. In the night between the 23rd and 24th the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was relieved by the French 125e régiment d'infanterie. Between the 22nd and 23rd of October 1914 nine men were killed and fifteen wounded.
John William Hodges, aged 21, was killed in action on October 21st, 1914. He was killed during the attack in the general area around of New Houses. On 17 December 1914 Corporal Hodges received a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions. His citation states: “For gallant conduct and very good work during the attack on 21st October.” Corporal Hodges has no known grave and is remembered on panel 39A of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 4
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1 Bucks Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/1348/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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5 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/1343/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
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Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, MZ 07116. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1614384 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=95be34a4-e68e-42cd-a84b-333f828f963d |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4984197 |