HODGSON, Maurice Kirkman


Captain, Maurice Kirkman HODGSON
Aged 34


1st Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment}
Died of his Wounds on Saturday, 13th March 1915

An Old Contemptible


Queen's South Africa and King's South Africa medals


Maurice Kirkman Hodgson was born on 23rd October 1880 at 36 Dover Street, London, (St.George, Hanover Square Q4-1880 1A:382), baptised in St.James, Piccadilly on 16th November 1880, son of Robert Kirkman and Lady Honora Janet HODGSON (née BOYLE). His mother was the daughter of the 9th Earl of Cork.

1881 census...Aged 8 months,he was at 36 Dover Street, London with his father Robert Kirkman HODGSON [31] magistrate born Brighton; his mother Honora J [23]; brothers Francis W K [4] and Michael R K [1]. All except his father were born in London.

1891 census...Aged 10, he was at 50 Grosvenor Street with his parents (father director of Barings Bank); brothers Michael, Patrick and Denys; sister Celia.

1901 census...Aged 20 he was in the Army in South Africa. His parents and brother Francis were at Hereford House, Park Street, St George Hanover Square, London

1911 census...Aged 30, he was a Captain in the Sherwood Foresters at Derby. His parents, sister Celia Emily; brothers Patrick Kirknman (clerk in House of Lords) and Denys Kirkman (manager of trout breeding firm) were at 77 Eaton Square, London.

The connection with Fornham St Martin has not been established, apart from an entry in Suffolk Heritage that Fornham Hall was in the ownership of G.E.A. Manners in 1912 and resident gentry in 1912 was a K.R.Hodgson, which could perhaps have been Robert Kirkman Hodgson

His elder brother Michael died in Belgium with the Royal Fusiliers just four days later. see here





He was educated at Radley College (where he is commemorated). Having served with the embodied Militia for a year he was gazetted to the Derbyshire Regiment in 1900. He served in the South African wars, being Garrison Transport Officer for 3 months in 1901. As 2nd Lt he was wounded slightly on 30 September 1901 at Moedwil. He was awarded the Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal clasps to the Queen's South Africa medal and 1901 and 1902 clasps to the King's South Africa medal. Promoted Lieutenant in 1902 and from February 1907 to January 1910 was Battalion Adjutant.
In the Great War he went with the 1st Battalion to Le Havre on 5th November 1914.
Wounded at La Bassee, he remained on duty, but was wounded again at Neuve Chapelle on 11th March 1915 and died from his wounds. The war Diary has:-
10 am -11-3-15- Neuve Chapelle- C Coy advanced NE through the orchard on the left of our line and occupiedsome broken down houses. LT.WEIGALL killed in this advance. Weather fine but dull. Battn shelled throughout the day by the enemy.
4 pm D Coy charge the enemy's breastworks but suffering heavy loss from machine gun fire is forced to abandon the enterprise. CPT STACKHOUSE and 2/Lt COXON killed, 2nd Lt BURTON i/c Grenadiers and 2nd Lt WATERS wounded.
CAPT. HODGSON wounded early morning CAPT WEBB at midday.





photo: Rodney Gibson




photo: Rodney Gibson



Maurice Hodgson is buried in Estaires Communal Cemetery and Extension, grave 2:H:7
and commemorated in Barton Stacey

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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