Name
Ernest Edward Hodgson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
4346
Coldstream Guards
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 11.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour
Pre War
Son of Louisa (nee WICKES) and the late James Edward or Edward James HODGSON; husband of Gertrude (nee WOODFORD) HODGSON of Northampton.
His parents married 16 June 1871 at Holy Trinity, Newington, London. Edward died 1889 in Watford aged 49, and was buried 31 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Louisa died 29 April 1921 in Northampton aged 69.
Ernest was born 1885 in Watford, and baptised 31 May 1885 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. He married 30 September 1905 at St Sepulchre, Northampton; they had three children. Gertrude never remarried and died 1960 in the Northampton district aged 77.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 6 he lived in Northampton, with his widowed mother and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, a boot trade finisher aged 16, he still lived in Northampton, with his widowed mother and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a boot finisher aged 25, he still lived in Northampton, with his wife and three children.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Northampton; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 11 September 1914, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Ernest in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 August 1917; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 3 August 1918.
His brother Frederick died 24 April 1917 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Unfortunately, Ernest’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
