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1862367 Company Quartermaster Sergeant
JACK RICHARD TOM HODGES
Royal Engineers

(formerly 554925 Rifleman, 16^th London Regiment and
662797 Private, Labour Corps)  

by

Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(September 2021)  

Figure 1.  1862367 Sergeant J.R.T. Hodges, R.E., circa 1935.
(Photograph courtesy of The Sapper, June 1935) 

1.  INTRODUCTION  

            This study was initiated after the author acquired the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (GVIR) awarded to Company Quartermaster Sergeant Hodges.  The information provided in this study was obtained from official Army records (tracer cards), medal rolls, family trees, civil documents, The Sapper magazine and The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers.

            Numerous pages from The Sapper magazine and his tracer cards formed the basis for most of the material presented in the following sections, especially as the information related to his promotions and postings.  Volumes of the Corps history also provided a good deal of information, not specifically about Hodges, but about the units in which he served.  Unfortunately, the tracer cards now available from the National Archives do not provide the detail that can be obtained from a soldier’s service papers.  The cards do provide units, dates and places of postings, which of course is most useful.  The researcher must then attempt to determine what these units were doing during the time that the man was serving with them.  Unlike the soldier’s service papers, the tracer cards do not provide information regarding medical history, military education, Good Conduct awards or medals and decorations.  Without these data the researcher has to assume certain aspects of the man’s service.  Every effort has been made to make Company Quartermaster Sergeant Hodges’ story as complete and as accurate as possible given the available resources.  At some time in the future his service papers, if available at the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow, may be obtained to provide further details to his story. 

            For brevity in the narrative, Hodges will be referred to as J.R.T. Hodges or simply as Hodges.   

2.  EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION  

Early Life

            Jack Richard Tom Hodges was born in Borough Stores, Castle Street, Farnham, Surrey on 15 October 1898.  He was the son of William Edward Hodges (1859-1931), a hotel manager, and Emma Hodges (1862-1900), née Bryant.  His birth was registered on 28 November and he was baptized in the Parish of Farnham on 3 January 1900.[1]

Figure 2.  William Edward Hodges.
(Photograph courtesy of the Hodges family tree)

            The 1901 Census of England was taken on 1 April 1901, just a little over a year from the date of Jack’s birth.  The census return shows that he was living at 4 Hotham Street, West Ham, London with his aunt (his mother’s sister) Margaret Gamble.

            The 1911 Census below shows the composition of the Hodges on 2 April 1911, the date that the census was taken.

1911 Census of England

NOTES:

(1)   The residential structure at 23 Market Street does not appear to exist anymore.

(2)   Ada Louisa Hodges, age 28, as the wife of William Hodges, does not agree with the Hodges family tree entries which show his wife at that time to be Eliza Mary Hodges, née Rice, age 54.  Eliza and William were married on 3 July 1901 and no other marriage prior to 1911 can be found.  Either the census taker erroneously noted Ada to be William’s wife, or the old fellow may have taken himself a young girl friend.

3.  ENLISTMENT AND TRAINING

            There is some confusion regarding the enlistment of J.R.T. Hodges for service in the Great War of 1914-1918.  A 1924 issue of The Sapper magazine indicates that his first enlistment was on 13 October 1916.  However the magazine entry does not indicate that he enlisted in the Royal Engineers on that date.  In fact, later documentation shows that his first enlistment in the R.E. was on 8 April 1922.  His Medal Index Card (M.I.C.) shows that he served in “16 London R” as a Private and then in the “Lab Corps.”  Obviously his first enlistment was in the 16^th London Regiment and the M.I.C. shows his regimental number as 554925.  Now exactly what the M.I.C. denotes is somewhat ambiguous.  There was a Regular Army battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).  It was the 16^th (Reserve) Battalion of the Regular Army that was formed in Falmouth in October 1914 as a Service battalion, part of Kitchener’s fourth call up.  In November 1914 it came under command of 103^rd Brigade with the 34th Division.  On 10 April 1915 it became a Reserve battalion and then 1 September 1916 it was converted to the 22^nd Training Reserve Battalion in the 5^th Reserve Brigade.  This battalion never saw active service in the Great War of 1914-1918. 

Figure 3.  Cap Badge of the 1/16^th (County of London) Battalion
(Queen’s Westminster Rifles). 
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia

            There also was a first line Territorial Forces battalion of the London Regiment; the 1/16^th (County of London) Battalion (Queen’s Westminster Rifles).  This battalion was formed in August 1914 at Queen’s Hall, 58 Buckingham Gate and was part of the 4^th London Brigade, 2^nd London Division. The battalion moved on mobilisation to the Hemel Hempstead area. On 3 November 1914 it left the Division and landed at Le Havre.  On 12 November 1914 it and came under command of the 18^th Brigade in the 6^th Division and on 10 February 1916 it transferred to 169^th Brigade in 56^th (London) Division.[2]

            A clue to which of these units Hodges may have served with is given by this rank as listed on the medal roll for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.  His rank on the roll is shown as Rifleman.  Since the 1/16^th Battalion was known as the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, he probably served in this battalion.  This battalion also served in France and Flanders and his service with this unit would have entitled him to the two medals, whereas the 16^th (Reserve) Battalion of the London Regiment did not serve abroad during the war.  The cap badge that he would have worn while serving in this battalion is shown in Figure 3 above.

4.  POSTINGS, ASSIGNMENTS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE

The Great War (1916-1919)

            If it is assumed that Hodges enlisted in the London regiment on 13 October 1916, then he probably received his recruit training at a regimental depot and by December 1916 was ready for deployment with his battalion; that is, the 1/16^th Battalion as discussed above.  Unfortunately his Medal Index Card does not indicate the date of his deployment, so we might guess that it was December 1916.  If this is correct, then he missed all of the major actions in which the battalion took part during 1916.  Based on the photograph in Figure 4 below, it appears that Hodges could only have taken part in the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the First Battle of the Scarpe,[3] both of which took place in April 1917.   

            At some point early in 1917 Hodges returned to England and was admitted to hospital.  The photograph (Figure 4), taken from the Hodges family tree, shows a group of patients and staff at the Davidson Road War Hospital.  The photograph is dated 20 April 1917.  The Davidson Road War Hospital was one of five divisions of the Croydon War Hospital System[4] and was located in Croydon, Surrey.  It consisted of 250 general beds for sick and wounded servicemen.  The divisions were originally intended to provide treatment for troops in the Eastern Command of the U.K. suffering from nerve, joint or jaw injuries, diseases of the ear, or needing general medical care, and to provide for sick servicemen in the neighbourhood.  As the war progressed, ear and nerve cases were transferred to other centers and the accommodation was then used for the reception of wounded and sick servicemen from overseas.

            The Medical Officer Commanding was a Colonel Morris, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was succeeded a year later by Col. H.E. Deane, R.A.M.C.  The medical staff consisted of R.A.M.C. doctors, but there were too few army doctors, so it was arranged that the local General Practitioners would also undertake regular duties at the hospital.  The nursing staff numbered 80, many of whom were members of the local Voluntary Aid Detachments. However, at one time, the entire nursing staff consisted of nurses from Australia. 

            Hodges appears to be one of the patients in the photograph below.  It is likely that his anemia, the ailment shown on his tracer card, required him to be hospitalized for some time and after his release from hospital it is most likely that he was posted to the Labour Corps at that time.  He then would have exchanged his cap badge from that of the London Regiment for the cap badge shown in Figure 5 below.

Figure 4.  Davidson Road War Hospital, 20 April 1917.
(Photograph courtesy of the Hodges family tree)   
NOTE: In the photograph above Hodges is seated in the bottom row, 
third from the right, directly above the man laying down.          

Figure 5.  Cap Badge of the Labour Corps.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)  

              Upon his transfer to the Labour Corps he became 662797 Private J.R.T. Hodges.  He served until 14 March 1919 when he was discharged from the Army.  He indicated that his intended place of residence after discharge would be Harbour View, East Quay, Poole, Dorset.[5]

Figure 6.  Harbour Inn and Pub, East Quay, Pool, Dorset.
(Photograph courtesy of the Harbour View Inn web site)

Chatham, Kent (1922-1923)

            On 8 April 1922, after a period of about two years following his discharge from the Army after the Great War, Hodges enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers.  His age on enlistment was 23 years and 175 days and he enlisted for a period of six years with the Colours and six years in the Army Reserve.  Once his enlistment was certified he was issued Army Number 1862367 and classified as a Wireman (Indoor), Group C, Class III.  On 6 May 1922 he joined “E” Company of the Royal Engineers Training Battalion (R.E.T.B.) for his engineer recruit training.  Because he had served in the Great War and had received previous training, he only remained with “E” Company until 20 July when he was posted to “D” Company of the R.E.T.B. for further trade training.  It appears that this additional training may have been as an electrician in preparation for his posting to an anti-aircraft searchlight battalion.[6]

Blackdown, Hampshire (1923-1925)

            Sapper Hodges was posted to the 1^st Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battalion, R.E. on 1 March 1923.  At the time of his posting, the battalion consisted of a Headquarters Wing, “A” and “B” Companies.  On 1 May 1924 “C” Company was formed in the battalion and it was commanded by Captain Robert Gerald Wright, R.E.[7] with Company Sergeant Major E. Fryman as the senior non-commissioned officer.[8]  Available references do not indicate to which company Hodges was posted when he joined the battalion.  On 12 May 1924 he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.[9]

            On 24 June 1924 Headquarters, “A” and “B” Companies of the battalion took part in a Practice Camp at Hunstanton, Norfolk.  These units returned to Blackdown from Practice Camp on 20 July 1924.[10]   During this summer sections of the battalion also were deployed to a searchlight Tattoo in Aldershot, the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley and a searchlight Tattoo in Shorncliffe.[11]  The newly organized “C” Company remained at Chatham during this period.  It is not known with which Lance Corporal Hodges served during this period.  

Figure 7.  A Section of an Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battalion.
(Photograph from the author’s collection)  

Sierra Leone, West Africa (1925-1926)

            Hodges was posted to the 36^th (Fortress) Company in Sierra Leone on 18 March 1925.[12]  The company was responsible for coastal defenses at Freetown in support of Royal Artillery batteries with searchlights.  Due to the harsh living conditions in Sierra Leone, men were only posted there for a period of one year.  On 28 March 1926 Lance Corporal Hodges was posted to the 54^th Field Company with the 3^rd Divisional Engineers in the Southern Command at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire.

Bulford Camp, Wiltshire (1926-1932)

            When Hodges joined the 54^th Field Company it was commanded by Major Richard Henry Dewing, DSO, MC, R.E.[13]  The other officers in the company at that time were:

Captain A.S. Johnstone, R.E.[14]

Lieutenant R.E. Black, R.E.

Lieutenant J.T.S. Tutton, R.E.[15]

Figure 8.  Major General Richard Henry Dewing, DSO, MC.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)  

            On 29 January 1927 Hodges was promoted to the rank of Corporal and in October 1928 he re-engaged to complete 21 years of service.  He was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant on 14 February 1931.  During his six years and seven months with the 54^th Field Company he participated in annual training exercises with the 3^rd Division along with the other Royal Engineers divisional units.  The company went through its annual training program to include musketry training, field engineering training and trades training.  By September of 1932 there had been a complete turn-over of company officers with Major F.E. Orange-Bromehead, OBE, R.E. assuming command of the company.  The other company officers at this time were:

Captain Maurice Robert H.Z. Swinhoe, R.E.[16]

Lieutenant W.H.C. Travers, R.E.[17]

Lieutenant N.A. Armitage, R.E.[18]  

Blackdown, Hampshire (1932-1934)

            Hodges’ trade and experience with searchlights were instrumental in having him return to duties with the 1^st Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battalion.  He was posted to “C” Company of the battalion on 28 October 1932 and returned once again to Blackdown.[19]  The battalion commander at this time was Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Fitzgibbon Grove-White, DSO, OBE, R.E.[20] and “C” Company was commanded by Captain Albert James de Pury, R.E.[21]

            Once he reported for duty with the battalion Lance Sergeant Hodges bounced around some within the unit.[22]  On 7 November 1932 he left “C” Company and transferred to “B” Company under the command of Major H.N.G. Geary, R.E.  Then on 10 December he was moved to the battalion’s Headquarters Wing under Captain A.J. Kennedy, R.E.  He spent less than seven months in HQ Wing before being posted back to “B” Company on 1 July 1933, which then was commanded by Major Kenneth Ian Gourlay, DSO, R.E.[23]

Hong Kong, China (1934-1937)

            Hodges was again posted to service abroad on 6 January 1934 when he joined the 40^th (Fortress) Company at Wellington Barracks in Hong Kong.  The company was commanded by Major J.H. Mousley, DSO, TD, RE.[24]  The other company officers included:

Captain Geoffrey Hugh Buckton Moss, R.E.[25]

Lieutenant A.W. Lorena, R.E.[26]

Lieutenant G.W.W. Morris, R.E.

Lieutenant R.J. Walker, R.E.

            Probably because of his searchlight experience, Hodges was posted to the 22^nd (Anti-Aircraft Searchlight) Company on 1 October 1934.  This unit was just being formed at this time and there were no officers assigned to the company; however, it was to be co-located with the 40^th (Fortress) Company at Wellington Barracks.[27]  Prior to the formation of this independent searchlight company, searchlights for coastal defense were those assigned to the 40^th (Fortress) Company.  These searchlights may have been planned also for use in an anti-aircraft mode, but probably their main function was to spot enemy vessels on the waters around Hong Kong.  The War Office at this time may have decided that searchlights dedicated to anti-aircraft use were necessary given the situation developing in the region with the Japanese. 

            Non-commissioned officers probably were being assigned to the new 22^nd Company at the time that Hodges joined the unit.  In fact, he was promoted to Sergeant on 1 January 1935, just three months after the company had been formed.  However, officer assignments to the company were proceeding very slowly.  On the date that Hodges was promoted there was only one officer serving in the company – Captain G. Thomas,[28] the acting Officer Commanding.  By April 1935 Captain Percy Fitzgerald Foley, R.E.[29] had assumed the duties of Officer Commanding the company.  Other company officers then included:[30]

Captain G. Thomas, R.E. (previously acting O.C.)

Lieutenant John Robert Cross Hamilton, R.E.[31]

Lieutenant J. Douglas Patullo, R.E.[32]

            Hodges was promoted to the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant (Warrant Officer Class II) sometime between April and June 1935.  As he had only been promoted to Sergeant five months previously, this rapid promotion can only be attributed to the need for senior non-commissioned officers to fill the ranks of the newly formed 22^nd Company.

            Hodges apparently was an accomplished billiards player, as he served as the Captain of the Warrant Officers’ and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ Mess Billiard Team while in Hong Kong.  His team won the Steel and Coulson League 1934-1935 billiards competition.

Figure 11.  The 22^nd (AASL) Company Billiards Team, 1934-1935.
(Major Foley seated center, Sergeant Hodges is seated to his left)
(Photograph courtesy of The Sapper magazine, June 1935)

            In October 1935 the newly formed 22^nd (AASL) Company was renamed the 22^nd (Fortress) Company thereby giving it additional duties for the coastal defense of Hong Kong.[33]  It probably now had the responsibility for illumination of both surface and air targets.

Blackdown, Hampshire (1937-1940)

            CQMS Hodges served in Hong Kong until 23 May 1937 when he was posted to “C” Company of the 1^st Anti-Aircraft Battalion at Blackdown.[34]  It should be noted that at this time the battalion designation was Anti-Aircraft Battalion and not Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battalion.

            During his time at Blackdown during this period, Hodges completed 21 years of service with the Colours.  He applied for and was granted permission to continue his service beyond 21 years.  On 8 December 1937 he was posted to “E” Company of the 2^nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion and on 15 December he returned to the 1^st Anti-Aircraft Battalion, this time to the Headquarters Wing.[35]  He next was posted to No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Company on a date not specified on his tracer card.  These postings within the Anti-Aircraft establishment were probably the result of the reorganization of the AA Command.

              1st AA Battalion, RE, under the command of Lt-Col R.M. Goldney, RA, was ordered to mobilize by 1st AA Brigade on 1 September 1939, and war was declared two days later. Battalion HQ with A and B Companies (which officially became Nos. 1 and 2 Companies) left Blackdown and embarked at Southampton on 10 September, landing at Cherbourg the following day.   However, this may have been a mistake: it is alleged that the movement order was supposed to have said 'less 1st AA Bn RE', and the battalion was intended to defend the Thames Estuary under AA Command.[36]  Although CQMS Hodges was serving in No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Company, it appears that he did not deploy with the company to France as indicated above.  On 20 April 1940 he was posted to the 137^th Mechanical Equipment Company, Royal Engineers.  Hodges appears to have remained in the UK when No. 2 Company deployed.

            A Mechanical Equipment Company typically consisted of a Headquarters of seven officers and forty-one other ranks, plus a variable number of mechanical equipment sections each consisting of one officer and forty-nine Other Ranks. The headquarters contained administrative personnel and a small repair section of engineer artificers, fitters, and welders.  Each section operated from ten to fourteen machines, according to type, either tractors or excavators or mixed, and containing mostly drivers. Sections are employed on construction project which required the use of heavy machinery in co-operation with normal engineer personnel and unskilled labour.  The 137^th Mechanical Equipment Company served in North West Africa from 1942 to 1943 and in Italy from 1943 to 1945, however, Hodges records do not indicate that he was with the company in these theatres of the war.[37]  On 23 January 1941 he was posted to 141 Officer Candidate Training Unit (O.C.T.U) at Shorncliffe. 

Shorncliffe and Wrotham, Kent (1940-1943)

            While with 141 O.C.T.U. Hodges probably served in an administrative and/or support role for the training of new officer candidates.  He continued in this assignment at Shorncliffe until 7 January 1943 when he was posted to No. 1 Training Battalion, R.E. in Clitheroe, Lancashire and then to the Officer Cadet Training Unit at Wrotham.  The purpose- built Pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit at Wrotham Camp was reputed to be at one stage the largest training establishment in the world with up to 10,000 cadets on site at one time. The first intake into Wrotham was in August 1942 and the camp continued training potential Officers until its closure was announced on 8 April 1946.  The purpose of the camp was to provide up to 8 weeks of military training to bring selected Officer Cadets to the same standard of training in a common military syllabus prior to attending a regular Officer Cadet Training Unit. The newly established 148 Training Brigade was established to run the punishing training programme which included drill, fitness, military law, first aid, map reading and other field skills from 0700 and 2200 daily. A dedicated ‘wing’ at Wrotham also trained the Officer Cadets in driving; with one week spent on 4-wheels, and the second on two-wheeled vehicles, both on and off road, as well as vehicle maintenance. A total of 5 training wings focused on infantry skills (A, B, C), driving and maintenance (D) and artillery (E).

Hull, Yorkshire (1943)

            Hodges stay with 141 O.C.T.U. was a short one.  On 15 January 1943 he was posted to the 30^th (Holding) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of Yorks Own) at Hull.  The 30th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment was the renumbered 6th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. It was a UK based Holding Battalion. According to The East Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Yorks Own) In The War 1939/45, Page 153: “[men] were posted from all parts and from all branches of the Army, soldiers of low medical category, Officers as well as Other Ranks.” On paper at least, 30th Battalion at one time in its ‘Holding’ role, had 28 Officers and 2,500 Other Ranks.  Special Boards, Medical and Tradesman Interview Boards set about sorting out the men, suitably posting those who could be employed, discharging the rest.  The battalion had been Hull based throughout its existence, but at the time it was disbanded, on the 11 September 1943, it had been moved out of Hull and was situated in Spalding, Lincolnshire. 

Chatham, Kent (1943)

            On 12 March 1943, just prior to his discharge, Hodges was posted to the Depot Company, 7 Training Battalion Royal Engineers at Chatham.  He was discharged on 16 June 1943.

5.  RELEASE FROM SERVICE
            Hodges’ total service was reckoned as shown in the tables below.

NOTE:  From the time of his discharge after the Great War on 14 March 1919 to his re-enlistment in the Royal Engineer on 2 April 1922 he had a break in service of 3 years and 24 days.  Part of this time he may have serve in the Class “Z” Reserve.     

______________________________________________________________________

            The following sections are presented in tabular form to summarize Hodges’ promotions, appointments, military training and qualifications and the medals that he was awarded during his time in the Army.  They are provided to give the reader easy access to these aspects of his military career.  The tables are followed by sections dealing with his marriage, personal information and post-service life.

__________________________________________________________________________

6.  PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

            J.R.T. Hodges received the following promotions during his time in service:

 7. MILITARY QUALIFICATIONS  

Military Training: No specific information is available regarding Hodges’ military training except what may be implied from the qualifications he obtained during his time in service.

Qualifications:  Hodges earned the following qualifications during his time in service.

 8. MEDALS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

            Hodges was awarded the following medals for his service from 13 October 1916 to 16 June 1943:

British War Medal

British Victory Medal

Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (GVIR)[38]

 NOTE:  It is not known if Hodges qualified for the award of the 1939-45 Star, nor is it known if he qualified for the Defence Medal of the War Medal.

9.      MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

Parents

            J.R.T. Hodges father, William Edward Hodges, was born on 1 May 1858 at 74 Great Guildford Street in Southwark, London, the son of Henry Hodges (1817-1881) and Mary Ann Hodges, née Divers (1822-1895).  William had two sisters:[39] Amy Matilda Hodges (1861-1936) and Theresa Divers Hodges (1864-1882).  He also had a brother, Henry John Hodges (1855-1881).

            William Edward Hodges married Emma Bryant (1862-1900) on 13 April 1882 in the Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Peckham, London.  William and Emma had three children: Theresa Emma Hodges (1883-1903), William Henry Bryant Hodges (1896-1954) and Jack Richard Tom Hodges (1898-1982).  Emma died on 24 October 1900 in the Chelsea Hospital for Women at 237 Fulham Road in London.  Jack was only two years old when his mother died.

Figure 14.  Emma (Bryant) Hodges (1862-1900).
(Photograph courtesy of the Grimshaw family tree)  

            The year following Emma’s death William married again.  His second wife was Eliza Mary Rice (1857-1936).  William and Eliza were married at the Register Office in Wintney, Hampshire on 3 July 1901.  They had three children of whom only one survived beyond a year: Theresa Louise Sandy Hodges (1910-2003), Lilian Kathleen Hodges (1911-1911) and Arthur Hodges (1912-1912).

Figure 15.  Eliza Mary (Rice) Hodges (1857-1936).
(Photograph courtesy of the Grimshaw family tree)  

            Although no details are provided in the various Hodges family trees, it appears that William and Eliza divorced sometime before 1917 as the Grimshaw family tree shows William marrying one Alice Mary C. Baker (1882-1956) at St. James’ Church in Poole, Dorset on 30 April 1917.  It appears that William and Eliza had no children.

            William Edward Hodges died on 21 June 1931 at the Harbour View Inn on East Quay Road in Poole.  His cause(s) of death were syncope (a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure) and a fatty enlarged heart.  No post mortem was performed.  The informant of his death was William Hodges, his son, (J.R.T. Hodges brother).  William Hodges was serving in the Royal Air Force at the time and was stationed at Halton Camp, Wendover, Buckinghamshire.  Jack Hodges was at Bulford Camp at the time of his father’s death.

            William Edward Hodges was buried in the Poole Cemetery on Dorchester Road in Poole, Dorset.  His widow, Alice May Hodges, was interred in the same grave in 1956, although there is no headstone.  

Spouse and Children

Spouse

            Jack Richard Tom Hodges married Alice Annie Spicer (1905-1989) at St. John the Baptist Church in Crowthorne, Berkshire on 12 June 1937 while he was serving with the 1^st Anti-Aircraft Battalion in Blackdown.  Alice was born on 9 December 1905 at 32 Broadmoor Rood in Crowthorne, the daughter of Harry Spicer (1867-1918) and Anne Spicer (1869-1948), née Scuffle. 

Figure 16.  Alice Annie Spicer as a Young Girl.
(Photograph courtesy of the Grimshaw family tree)  

            Alice had a sister, Edith Mary Amy Spicer (1903-1901).  Prior to her marriage to Jack, Alice worked at Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne from April 1919 to July 1924.  Alice died on 18 April 1989 at 47 Warnford Road in Bournemouth, Hampshire, outliving Jack by almost seven years.

Figure 17.  The Hodges Wedding, 12 June 1937.
(Photograph courtesy of Finch Family Tree)  

Figure 18.  Jack and Alice Hodges, circa 1937 (perhaps a Honeymoon Photo?).
(Photograph courtesy of the Hodges family tree)

 Children

            The family trees posted on Ancestry.com (Grimshaw and WILALMJAN) show that Jack and Alice had only one child, Janet Elizabeth Hodges (1943-2000), born on 28 January 1943 at Louise Margaret Maternity Hospital in Aldershot, Hampshire.  However, in his Will Jack lists two daughters; Patricia Ann Sheppard and Janet Elizabeth Grimshaw.  He also lists a son, Richard Bryant Hodges, and another daughter, Eileen Mary Dean.  Searches were made on Ancestry.com for each of the people listed in the Will.  Here are the results of those searches.

Patricia Ann Sheppard:  No definitive connection between this woman and J.R.T. Hodges could be found.  She may have been a daughter not uncovered by the creators of the family trees and Sheppard may have been her married name.

Janet Elizabeth Grimshaw:  She is of course Janet Elizabeth Hodges found in the Grimshaw family tree.  She married one Phillip Grimshaw (1935-2008).

Richard Bryant Hodges:  No connection could be found for any man by this name with J.R.T. Hodges. 

NOTE: One of J.R.T. Hodges brothers had the middle name Bryant, hinting at a possible family connection.

Eileen Mary Dean:  Again, no definitive connection between this woman and J.R.T. Hodges could be found.  She may have been a daughter not uncovered by the creators of the family trees and Dean may have been her married name.

            There also is the possibility that except for Janet Elizabeth, all the other people in the Will to whom Hodges refers to as his children, may have been adopted.  The Grimshaw family tree lists three individuals as “Private” under Alice Annie Spicer; one male and two females.  In all likelihood these three individuals are the three missing children but access to their information and/or photographs has been restricted by the creator of the family tree.  See Addendum No. 1.            

Siblings

            Since J.R.T. Hodges father was married three times and had children by two of his wives, he had brothers and sisters and half-brothers and sisters.  His siblings are listed here.

·         His sister, Theresa Emma Hodges was born on 3 January 1903 at Old Rose Tavern, 42 Tanner Street in Bermondsey, London.  Theresa died in the Sussex County Hospital in Tunbridge Wells, Kent on 19 September 1903.

·         His brother, William Henry Bryant Hodges was born on 9 March 1896 at 4 Tyrwhitt Road in Lewisham, London.  He served in the Army during the Great War.  A search for his Medal Index Card was made, but there are too many men with similar names to determine in which regiment or corps he might have served.  In the photograph below he is seen shaking hand with his father, William Edward Hodges.  He appears to be home on leave, but from the condition of his uniform and boots it is most likely that he just had returned from France after a period of active service there.  

Figure 21. William Edward Hodges and His Son William Henry Bryant Hodges.
(Photograph courtesy of the Telford Hoare Family Tree)  

·         His half-sister Theresa Louise Sandy Hodges was born on 20 May 1910 on Market Street in Poole, Dorset.  She died in 2003.

·         His half-sister Lilian Kathleen Hodges was born in July 1911 at the Crown Hotel, 23 Market Place, Poole, Dorset.  Lilian died there on 21 September 1911.

·         His half-brother Arthur Hodges was born on 24 April 1912 in the Crown Hotel.  He died shortly after his birth.

10.  POST SERVICE LIFE

            It appears that following his discharge from the Army the Hodges settled in the Poole area.  Jack became a sheet metal worker, probably putting to use some of the skills he developed while in the Army.  

Figures 22, 23 and 24.  Jack and Alice Through the Years.
(Photographs courtesy of the Hodges family trees)

            In 1980 Jack had his will prepared two days before his 82^nd birthday.  The following is an abstract of the will found in the Probate Registry at Somerset House:

Figure 25.  Jack Richard Tom Hodges, c. 1980.
(Photograph courtesy of the Hodges family tree)  

            Jack Richard Tom Hodges died at the age of 84 on 15 November 1982 at the General Hospital, Poole, Dorset.  His death certificate lists his occupation as a retired sheet metal worker.  His address at the time of his death was 47 Lulworth Avenue in Poole as shown in his Will.  The informant of his death was his wife Alice.  His death certificate listed his cause(s) of death as:

Ia. Bronchopneumonia

Ib. Cerebrovascular accident (a stroke)

II. Hypertension

Figure 26.  The Hodges’ Home at 47 Lulworth Avenue, Poole, Dorset.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)

Figure 27.  General Hospital, Poole, Dorset.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)

ADDENDUM NO. 1

    Information kindly supplied by Mr. Andrew Grimshaw, the son of Janet Elizabeth Grimshaw, indicated that Jack Hodges did indeed have four children; Patricia Ann (born 1938), Richard Bryant (born 1940), Janet Elizabeth (born 1943) and Eileen Mary (born 1945).    

REFERENCES:

Books  

1. History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume VII, p. 202.
2. History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume VIII, p. 461.

Census  

1. 1901 Census of England (RG 13/1564).
2. 1911 Census of England and Wales

Documents  

1. Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth, General Register Office Number B118714, 16 August 1988, Copy Number BCA 225124.
2. Certified Copy of an Entry of Death.  General Register Office Number QDX 074352, 15 November 1982.
3. Abstract of Will, Probate Registry, Somerset House, 1983.
4. Probate Calendar, 1983, p. 4653.
5. World War I Pension Record Cards and Ledgers.
6. Baptism Record: Jack Richard Tom Hodges, 3 January 1900.

Family Trees  

1. Grimshaw Family Tree: Jack Richard Tom Hodges.
2. Grimshaw Family Tree: William Edward Hodges (father).
3. WILALMJAN Family Tree: Alice Annie Spicer (wife).
4. Flack Family Tree: Jack Richard Tom Hodges.
5. Jesse-Crafter Family Tree: Jack Richard Tom Hodges.
6. MASKELL AND JOHNSON FAMILY TREE: Jack Richard Tom Hodges.
7. Telford Hoare Family Tree. Jack Richard Tom Hodges.
8. Finch Family Tree: Jack Richard Tom Hodges.

Internet Web Sites  

1. Army Service Numbers 1881-1918.

https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2008/10/16th-county-of-london-bn-london.html

2. The Long, Long Trail: London Regiment.

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/london-regiment/

3. Forces War Records: London Regiment.

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/4899/london-regiment/

4. Pub wiki: Harbour View Inn, East Quay Road, Poole, Dorset.

https://pubwiki.co.uk/Dorset/Poole/HarbourView.shtml

5. Lost Hospitals of London.

https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/croydonwar.html  

Medal Rolls  

1. Labour Corps Medal Roll: British War Medal and Victory Medal.
2. Medal Index Card: Pte Jack R.T. Hodges.

Periodicals  

The Royal Engineers Quarterly Lists  

1. The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, January 1930, p. xxiii.
2. The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, October 1932, p. xxi
3. The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, July 1933, p. xx.
4. The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, January 1934, p. xxiii.
5. The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, October 1934, p. xxiii.
6. The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, January 1935, p. xxiii.
7. The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, April 1935, p. xxiii.

Sapper Magazines  

1. The Sapper, June 1924, p. 250.
2. The Sapper, July 1924, p. 286.
3. The Sapper, September 1924, p. 41.
4. The Sapper, November 1926, p. 114.
5. The Sapper, December 1926, p. 148.
6. The Sapper, June 1929, p. 316.
7. The Sapper, December 1930, p. 143.
8. The Sapper, April 1931, p. 256.
9. The Sapper, May 1931, p. 283.
10. The Sapper, October 1932, p. 115.
11. The Sapper, June 1934, p. 309.
12. The Sapper, June 1935, p. 637.
13. The Sapper, October 1935, p. 68.
14. The Sapper, February 1936, p. 179.
15. The Sapper, May 1936, p. 255.
16. The Sapper, February 1983, p. 3.

Service Papers  

1. Tracer Card: Cover Card.
2. Tracer Card: Military History.

ENDNOTES: