Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in Port Augusta extension in South Australia. Allan Leslie Hodge grew up with 11 siblings his mother Harriet and his father John. Harriet Hodge was Allan’s next in kin. Hodge worked as a grocer’s assistant and was a Methodist, meaning that they believe of the presence of Christ in the communion, but doesn’t hold to transubstantiation. A grocer’s assistant wage and income was probably minimal. Hodge had previous military experience. Hodge was in the cadets in the 82nd Battalion and was then moved to the 81st Infantry Battalion which he was still serving in when he went to fight in the war.

On the day Hodge enlisted the local paper stated that the 59th casualty list issued the day before containing 138 names, including 2 killed in action 6 died of wounds and 5 of illness. 'three thousand buildings were destroyed by fire the week before in Constantinople, including the German hospital which was full of wounded soldiers.

Hodge enlisted in 3rd of August 1915. He left Adelaide on the RMS Malwa on the 2nd of December 1915. During the three months of time, he would have been trained at an army camp in Adelaide. Hodge at the camp would have learned to march and to use a gun and the basics of war, even though he would have been trained because of his past military service. During his time in the war, he wasn’t moved to other battalions because they needed reinforcements. During his time in the war, he was injured and sent to the hospital on three separate occasions. The first time he was injured was a gunshot wound to the foot. During the time of him getting shot, he was with his battalion and rushing the enemy line in Sausage Valley, Pozieres on 19/8/16. On this day there were one hundred and sixty-one casualties. He was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital on the 27/8/16 on the HMS Brighton. When he re-joined on 21/8/17 the battalion the soldiers were marched fifteen miles through Bleu. Throughout his time-fighting in war, he had another occasion of when he was sick. It is recorded that Hodge was sick on the 2/7/18. Although it doesn’t specify his sickness, it could have been trench feet, pneumonia or other common sicknesses. On the day he was recorded sick the tenth battalion was in the Merris Sector a few days after the battalion tried to raid posts one and two. Hodge was a private for his military service, which is why he didn’t have any major responsibilities in his war. Later in Hodges military service, Hodge enlisted in a signals camp. A signals man would be responsible for communication. A Signalman would usually mean you were close to the frontline troops, providing signals communications back to your Company and Battalion H.Q. It was a dangerous job because of the lack of telephones and enemy shelling. He would train from nine a.m to twelve p.m. In their spare time of the camp, soldiers would spend their spare time doing leisurely activities like drawing. He re-joined his unit a month later. After his time spent in war, Hodge was awarded three medals. These medals were, the 1914/15 star awarded to for fighting outside the UK between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915. He was also awarded the British Medal star, he was awarded this medal because he either entered a theatre of war (an area of active fighting) or for serving overseas and was served to people who fought in the British and imperial forces between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. The last medal he was awarded was the allied victory medal, which he got for his service in the war. The colors on the medal indicate the combined colors of the allied nations.

Hodge was returned to Australia on the 31/5/19 after four years of service to the army. There are letters sent to him in Sydney on the 1st July 1959 and another letter sent to Hodge in Sydney on the 6th of July 1966. Later Hodge got married and had one child. Hodge died in 1970 at the age of 73. Hodge was successful in surviving in war and tried to do his part in the war with the obstacles he faced. It was brave of him fighting in the war for four years and fought in one of the most deadly battle of Pozieres.

Allan was one of 10 children born to John and Harriet Hodge (nee Garrett). Three children died in early infancy. He grew up with seven siblings only (not 11 as stated above).