Lieutenant William Noel Hodgson M.C.
9th(Service)Battalion
Devonshire Regiment
1st July 1916
Born in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire on 03/01/1893.
His parents were Henry Bernard Hodgson(10/03/1856- 28/02/1921(He was tro later become the Right Reverend the Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich.)) and Penelope Maria Weston(02/01/1860-17/02/1944). They married on 01/06/1882.
William had 2 brothers; Arthur Bernard Laird(1884-28/06/1954) and Harry Courtenay(1837-1930). He also had a sister, Stella Mary(06/02/1891-15/03/1983).
In the 1901 census the family were recorded as living at 2 Wellington Terrace, Berwick Upon Tweed,England. Henry was a clergyman of the Church of England.
By the time of the 1911 census, William had been sent off the school and was now a boarder at Durham School.
At the start of the War, William applied for a commission and on 16/09/1914 he joined the 9th(Service) Battalion as a 2nd Lieutenant. His date of disembarkation into France was on 28/07/1915 via Le Havre.
In October 1915 he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross for holding a captured trench for 36 hours without reinforcements or supplies during the Battle of Loos on 25/09/1915. He was promoted to Lieutenant.
He was killed in action on 01/07/1916 by machine gun fire.
He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star,The 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
In his will,read on 09/11/1916 he left effects worth £190 0s 2d(worth today £19,202.71)
Newcastle Daily Chronicle – Monday 12 June 1905
“Durham School
The following King’s scholarships have been awarded at Durham School; …. Scholarships of £20 each to William Noel Hodgson
son of Archdeacon Hodgson of Berwick…”
Exeter & Plymouth Gazette – Monday 10 July 1916 – “Lieut. William Noel Hodgson Devonshire Regiment, who was killed on July 1, was the third and youngest son of the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and Mrs Hodgson, He was born in 1893 and was educated at Durham School and Christchurch Oxford. An exhibitor of his college, he obtained a first class in classical moderations in March 1913. He received his commission as second Lieutenant at the outbreak of war. Was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the military cross in October 1915, being subsequently promoted Lieutenant.”
Diss Express – Friday 22 October 1937-
“Iam content our life is but a trust
From the great hand of God, and if I keep
The immortal treasure clean of mortal rust
Against his claim ‘tis well.
William Noel Hodgson
The full story of Williams life and his time with the 9th Devons can be found in this book
"Before Action" by Charlotte Zeepvat.
If you would like a copy,just click on the book cover to the left and it will take you to a website with information on where you can purchase a copy.