Walter HODGSON

HODGSON, Walter

Service Numbers: Not yet discovered
Enlisted: 13 June 1915, Appointed to rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 1st December 1915.
Last Rank: Second Lieutenant
Last Unit: 19th Infantry Battalion
Born: Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia, 24 April 1893
Home Town: Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling: Cleveland Street Public School (Sydney) and Sydney High School New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Railway Clerk
Died: Died of wounds, France, 6 August 1916, aged 23 years
Cemetery: Puchevillers British Cemetery, France
Memorials: Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

13 Jun 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4th Infantry Battalion, Appointed to rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 1st December 1915.
1 Dec 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 19th Infantry Battalion, Transferred to 19th Infantry Battalion on promotion.
20 Jan 1916: Involvement Lieutenant, 19th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: ''
20 Jan 1916: Embarked Lieutenant, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney
31 Jul 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 5th Division Artillery , Battle for Pozières , Died of wounds.
6 Aug 1916: Involvement Second Lieutenant, 19th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 19 Battalion awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1916-08-06

Help us honour Walter Hodgson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by John Oakes

Walter HODGSON was born on 24th April 1893 at Ashfield, NSW. He attended Cleveland Street Public School and then Sydney High School. On 1st August 1909 he joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as an apprentice clerk in the Railways Traffic Branch at Sydney Goods. His position changed to junior clerk on his 18th birthday, 24th April 1911. On 22nd June 1914 he transferred to Redfern with the grade of clerk and on 28th April 1915 he transferred to Hornsby at the same grade.

While working for the NSWGR&T he also served for three and a half years with the 29th Infantry (Australian Rifle Regiment) and the 31st Infantry Militia units, holding ranks of Sergeant and Lieutenant.

On 21st June 1915, Walter was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces. His Attestation Paper gives the date he joined the AIF as 13th June 1915. He nominated his mother, Mrs Alice Hodgson of Moore Park, NSW, as his next of kin. He was posted to the 11th Reinforcements to the 4th Infantry Battalion. In view of his previous Militia experience, and rankings, he applied for a commission as an officer and his appointment at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant was Gazetted on 1st December 1915. He was then transferred to the 9th Reinforcements to the 19th Infantry Battalion.

He left for Egypt aboard HMAT A54 ‘Runic’ on 20th January 1916, arriving there on 26th February 1916.

On 27th March 1916, Walter left Egypt for France where he was taken on strength at the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot, Etaples, on 5th April 1916. After two months there, on 5th June 1916 he joined the 19th Infantry Battalion. In July 1916 he was transferred to the 5th Division Artillery.

On 31st July 1916 he was wounded in action at Pozières. On 6th August 1916 he died of his wounds.

Walter’s grave is in Puchevillers British Cemetery, Puchevillers, Picardie, France. The Australian War Memorial gives his place of association as Moore Park, Sydney, NSW.

After his death his mother was awarded a pension of £3 and 10 shillings per fortnight with effect from 30th October 1916.

- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Board and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.

Read more...