HODGSON, Michael Reginald Kirkman [MiD]


Captain, Michael Reginald Kirkman HODGSON [MiD]
Aged 35


4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, attached 2nd Bn, Yorkshire Light Infantry
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 17th March 1915

An Old Contemptible



Queen's South Africa; King's South Africa; 1914 Star; War Medal; Victory Medal; Indian Durbar medal


Michael Reginald Kirkman Hodgson was born on 26th September 1879 at 7 Charles Street, Berkeley Square, 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 1,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 Maurice K [8 months]. All except his father were born in London.

1891 census...Aged 11, he was at 50 Grosvenor Street with his parents (father director of Barings Bank); brothers Maurice, Patrick and Denys; sister Celia.

1901 census...Aged 21 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 31, he was a Captain in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, in India. 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 younger brother Maurice died of his wounds with the Sherwood Forester just four days earlier. see here





He was educated at Eton College (where he is commemorated) and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was gazetted 2nd Lt in the Royal Fusiliers in October 1899, promoted to Lieutenant in September 1900
He served in the South African wars, he saw action at Pieter's Hill and was awarded the Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, 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.
Going on to India,he was awarded the Indian Durbar Medal in 1911. promoted Captain in 1907, in 1912 he became ADC to Lord Carmichael, Governor-General of Bengal. Without having accessed his Army records at Kew, it is not known where he was when war broke out, the 4th Royal Fusiliers had reached France by 13th August, but he was in France by 20th October 1914 with the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, which he commanded temporarily. He was then transferred back to his own Regiment and was with the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers when he was killed SE of Ypres. The battalion war diary simply says "Capt Hodgson and Lt Berrill killed-quiet day". He had been Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir John French on 31st May 1915.




This plaque is on the panelling around the altar at Barton Stacey, Hants
To the glory of God and in loving memory of their brothers Michael and Maurice Hodgson killed in action March 1915.
This panelling is dedicated by F.K.H. P.K.H. D.K.H. C.E.N... November 1916.
That will be his brothers Francis, Patrick and Denys and sister Celia


photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Michael Hodgson is commemorated on the Menin Gate, panels 6 and 8
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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