Name
(Richard) William Hodgkin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/11/1919
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Company Quartermaster Serjeant
20287
East Yorkshire Regiment
Depot
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WATFORD CEMETERY
K. 1. 916.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial (External), Watford, Christ Church Memorial Street Shrine (Internal), Watford
Pre War
Son of Richard John and Mary Louisa (nee MATTA) HODGSKIN of Watford; husband of Bertha (nee HUNT) HODGSKIN.
His parents married 9 September 1883 at St John the Evangelist, East Dulwich, London. Mary died 8 Febraury 1926 in Watford aged 67, and was buried 11 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Richard died 9 March 1950 in Watford aged 89, and was buried 14 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 10 March 1886 in Kentish Town, London, and baptised 30 October 1887 at St John the Baptist, Kentish Town. He attended Bushey Boys’ School, Herts; then Callowland Board School, Watford, from 28 October 1895 to 23 June 1899. He married 5 August 1912 at Christ Church, Watford. Bertha died 18 September 1918 in the Watford district aged 32. He died at the Seaman’s Hospital, Silvertown, West Ham, Essex, and was buried 22 November.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar .
On the 1891 Census, aged 5 he lived in Oxhey, Herts, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, a butcher aged 15, he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a time-keeper with a railway company aged 25, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He originally enlisted 2 May 1904 at Curragh, Ireland, for 3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserves, aged 18. Was posted to the 11th Hussars 5 May 1904, and transferred to the Reserve 2 May 1907.
He was posted to the 12th (Reserve) Regiment 15 August 1915, and promoted to Acting Corporal 18 September 1914. Was transferred to the 5th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment and appointed Lance-Corporal 8 June 1915; transferred to the 1st Territorial Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment 7 October 1915. Was Appointed Company Quarter-Master Sergeant 1 December 1915, and promoted to Company Quarter-Master Sergeant 19 February 1916. He embarked for Bombay 15 December 1918, but was discharged 28 May 1919 at York, because of gastritis and enteric following dysentery caused by service in India, his home was in Watford
He was entitled to the British War Medal, and issued with the Silver War Badge 16 September 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
