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Captain
FREDERICK CHARLES HODGSON
Royal Engineers  

by

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward De Santis, MSCE, PE, MInstRE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(August 2020)  

Figure 1.  Lieutenant Frederick Charles Hodgson, R.E.,
in His Mess Dress Uniform, c. 1914.
(Photograph courtesy of Stephanie Weaver)   

1.  INTRODUCTION  

            This is the story of a soldier who served in the Royal Engineers of the British Army for just under 36 years; 17 years and 249 days in the ranks, 6 years and 212 days as a Warrant Officer and the remainder as a commissioned officer.  His period of service spanned from 1888 to 1924 and during that period the British Army was involved in two major wars; the Boer War of 1899 to 1901 and the Great War of 1914 to1918.  In addition, the army was involved in numerous small campaigns in Africa, India and in China during the years of his service.  Hodgson did not see active service in any of these wars or campaigns.  As part of the Establishment for Engineer Services, his postings took him to many areas where there were no on-going conflicts.  Many of his fellow officers and non-commissioned officers went on parade with chests full of medals.  Such was not the case with Captain Hodgson as will be seen in subsequent sections of this narrative.

NOTE: Captain Hodgson’s story is not complete with regard to precise dates and locations as his military service papers have yet to be found.  Amendments to his story may be expected if the author is successful in obtaining these records.     

2.  EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION  

            Frederick Charles Hodgson’s father was John Hodgson (1832-1908) who was born in Oldham, Lancashire on the 1^st of June 1832.  His mother was Mary Harriet Cumner (1839-1925) of Bristol, Somerset.[1]  John and Mary had eight children in addition to Frederick; six boys and two girls.

            Ernest Thomas Hodgson (1861-1945) born in Highworth, New Swindon, Wiltshire.

            Alfred Edward Hodgson (1863-1940), born in Highworth, New Swindon, Wiltshire.

            Herbert John Hodgson (1865-1952), born in Highworth, New Swindon, Wiltshire.

            Walter James Hodgson (1866-1962), born in Dover, Kent.

            Ada Elizabeth Hodgson (1869-1954), born in Dover, Kent.

            Isaac Hodgson (1875-?), born in Dover, Kent.

            Percy Hodgson (1875-1941), born in Dover, Kent.[2]

            Laura A. Hodgson (1880-1920), born in Dover, Kent.

            Frederick Charles Hodgson was born in Dover, Kent on the 25^th of August 1869.  The Hodgson family was Catholic, so Frederick was baptized at St. Mary-the-Virgin Church in Dover on the 30^th of August 1874, five years after his birth.[3]  His sister Ada had been born in January of 1869 and Frederick was born in August of the same year, so one wonders whether he may have been a premature baby.  If he was premature and under size and weight, there may have been some concern regarding his survival; hence, his parents may have decided to wait five years before he was baptized.  This is conjecture on the author’s part and is contrary to Catholic belief, as having him baptized immediately if his survival were in question would have been the more sensible thing to do, thereby erasing the original sin with which the Catholics believe that man is born with.

Figure 2.  St. Mary-the-Virgin Church in Dover, Kent.
(Illustration courtesy of Wikipedia)

            The 1871 Census of England shows the Hodgson family living at 17 Paris Yards in St. Mary Parish, Dover Kent.  The information provided in the census (RG 10/1009) is as shown in the table below.  

1871 Census of England

NOTE:  Walter and Frederick were entered on the form out of chronological sequence, as shown in the table.

            By 1881 the Hodgson family had moved to 20 Clarendon Place in Hougham, Dover as shown in the census of that year (RG 11/1006).

1881 Census of England

NOTES:

1. Alfred, 19 years of age, is not living with his parents in 1881.
2. Percy, age 6, is not shown as living with his parents.
3. The census form did not include middle names or initials.  These have been added by the author. 

Figure 3.  The House at 20 Clarendon Place, Hougham, Dover, Kent.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)  

3.  PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

            No detailed physical description of Frederick Charles Hodgson has been found.  If his military service papers still exist they would be at the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow, Scotland.  The papers might contain a description of him when he enlisted in the Army in 1888.  From the photograph in Figure 1 (circa 1912 to 1917) he appears to have had a receding hairline, a high forehead, a rather long neck and a full, but neatly trimmed mustache.  From the photograph he looks to be of average build with a full face.  Using the length (33.75 inches) of the scabbard of the Royal Engineers Pattern sword in Figure 4 below, it appears that Captain Hodgson was about 5 feet 10 inches feet tall.  This photograph shows him to be of moderate build as well.

Figure 4.  Captain Frederick Charles Hodgson, R.E.
in His Full Dress Uniform with Staff Officers Cocked Hat, c. 1920.
(Photograph courtesy of Greg Bolton)  

4.  ENLISTMENT AND TRAINING  

Chatham, Kent (1888-1890)

            Frederick Charles Hodgson enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a Sapper on the 24^th of September 1888 at the age of 18 years and 11 months.[4]  His Regimental Number upon enlistment was 23163.  Immediately after enlistment he would have undergone recruit training at the School of Military Engineering (SME) at Chatham, Kent.  Since he was living with his family in Dover at the time he would not have had far to travel to report to the SME once his attestation for service had been approved.  It was normal for a man who enlisted in the Royal Engineers to have some trade in civilian life that would be of use in the Army.  Frederick may have worked in his father’s foundry and had gained a useful trade there.  His training at Chatham would have consisted of general military subjects as well as field engineering and marksmanship.  Once he successfully completed his recruit training he was posted to his first unit, probably in late 1889 or early in 1890.

5.  ASSIGNMENTS

St. Lucia, Barbados (1890-1894)

            Based on where he was married in 1892 it appears that his first posting was to a Royal Engineers fortress company stationed on the island of St. Lucia in the eastern Caribbean.  He may have spent as many as four years or more on St. Lucia and had been promoted to the ranks of Lance Corporal and Corporal while he was there.  Since he married while on the island, he probably was assigned quarters in the married soldiers’ barracks.[5]  

            The Royal Engineers Headquarters on St. Lucia was located at The Morne, an area located south of Castries, the island’s capitol.  An artillery battery was located at The Morne and the 1st West India Regiment manned that battery on the 16^th of December 1888 when the port became a coaling station.  This was probably just before Hodgson arrived on the island.  On the 12^th of November 1890, the Royal Artillery manned the battery of four 10-inch guns.[6]  Hodgson surely became involved in supporting the Royal Artillery with this battery.  This support would have been in the form of maintaining the existing fortification as well as building any additions to the battery that may have been required.  

Figure 5.  The Abandoned Married Soldiers’ Barracks on St. Lucia, c. 2020.
(Photograph courtesy of Fortfinder)           

Home Service (1894-1902)

            This period of Hodgson’s service is rather blank since his service papers have not been found.  He probably was promoted to the rank of sergeant during this period, but it is difficult to determine where he might have been stationed.  The 8-years attributed to this period of service is only a guess on the author’s part.  He may have served on St. Lucia beyond 1894 and his period of service at Cardiff may have started before 1902.

Cardiff, Wales (1902-1907) 

            It appears that Hodgson was posted to Cardiff where he served as part of the Establishment for Engineer Services building and maintaining military facilities there.[7]  Cardiff formed part of the Southern Command of the British Army in the United Kingdom.  It was further broken down into a Western District and a South Wales Sub-District.  The District Officer under whom Hodgson probably worked was Captain A. Meares, DSO, R.E.[8] 

            Hodgson probably received a promotion to Staff Sergeant Foreman of Works soon after arriving at Cardiff.  On the 1^st of June 1906 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class I) Foreman of Works and on the 1^st of June 1907 he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in accordance with Army Order No. 4 of 1907.[9]

Hong Kong (1907-1910)

                Just when Hodgson was posted to Hong Kong is not known.  The Monthly Army Lists from October through December of 1910 (page 1544) verify that Hodgson was serving there at least during 1910.  During 1908 the Royal Engineers Headquarters in South China was located at Victoria Barracks in Hong Kong.  The Chief Engineer was Colonel Charles Henry Darling, R.E.[10]  From January through July of 1910 the Chief Engineer was Colonel C.W.R. St. John, R.E. and he had under him the Hong Kong Sub-District with Major Geoffrey D. Close, R.E. as the Sub-District Commander Royal Engineers.  The Hong Kong Sub-District was reclassified as a District in February of 1910.

            From August through September of 1910 the Hong Kong District was commanded by Major W.M. Pyne, R.E., who had temporarily replaced Major Close.  Close was back in command of the District in October of 1910 as a Lieutenant Colonel and Major Pyne became his D.O.1.[11]  As the Sergeant Major Foreman of Works during this period Hodgson surely worked with each of these officers.

Chatham, Kent (1910-1914)[12]

            Hodgson’s next appointment was to the School of Military Engineering at Chatham where he was employed as a Sergeant Major Foreman of Works.  His address in 1911 was 22 Marlborough Road in Gillingham, a small town adjacent to Chatham.

Figure 6.  The Hodgson Home at 22 Marlborough Road in Gillingham, Kent.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)  

            The following table shows the Hodgson’s household in the 1911 Census of England and Wales.

            On the 29^th of December 1912 Sergeant Major Frederick Charles Hodgson was discharged in order to obtain a commission in the Royal Engineers.  On the following day he was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant (Quartermaster) and was made an Honorary Lieutenant with Army Number 236498.[13]  By this time in his career he had 24 years and 2 months service with the Colours.  He obviously had already been granted a continuance of service beyond 21 years, which was a requirement for Warrant Officers.  Perhaps he needed to be commissioned in order to continue to serve beyond 24 years and based on his exemplary conduct and performance of duty up to this point the War Office was willing to grant him the commission as a Quartermaster.

Limerick, Ireland (1914-1918)[14]

            After being commissioned he was posted to Limerick, Ireland where he served in his capacity as Quartermaster.  When the Great War broke out in August of 1914, Hodgson was 45 years of age.  He may have been considered to be too old for active service at the front or he may have been essential in his posting in the U.K.  In any case he missed the second large war to take place during his time in the Army.

            In Limerick he was posted to the Fermoy District, part of the Irish Command.  His District Officer was Captain H.L.G. Bell, R.E.[15]

Sheerness, Kent (1918-1924)

            On the 1^st of July 1917 Hodgson was promoted to the rank of Captain (Quartermaster) while he was serving at Sheerness.  The Sheerness District Headquarters was located on High Street in Blue Town.  The Commander Royal Engineers of the District was Lieutenant Colonel C.C. Perceval, R.E.

            Blue Town is a suburb of the town of Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.  It sits just outside the dockyard wall which marks the boundary of Sheerness proper.  Sheerness Dockyard also known as the Sheerness Station was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the Sheerness peninsula, at the mouth of the River Medway in Kent. Blue Town grew up alongside the Naval Dock Yard during the Napoleonic Wars and gained its distinctive name from the practice of the earliest inhabitants to preserve their wooden houses using blue paint “liberated” from their employers in the dock yard. It began as a small self-contained community built on a very damp and wet place reclaimed out of the marshes. It was a very confined area, a dense triangle of houses and alleyways compressed between the dockyard wall and Well Marsh, and was prone to both flood and fire. At one point separated from Sheerness fort by a moat and drawbridge, the area was enclosed by an earthwork bastioned trace at the end of the 18th century amid growing fears of a French invasion.  Both the dockyard and Sheerness fort may have been areas in which Captain Hodgson worked.

            Hodgson appears to have served at Sheerness until the 24^th of August 1924 when he retired from the Army just one month short of having served 36 years with the Colours.

 _________________________________________________________________________

            The following sections are presented in tabular form to summarize Hodgson’s promotions, appointments, military training and qualifications and the medal 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

            Hodgson received the following promotions during his time in service:

NOTE:  Since his service papers were not available at the time of preparation of this work, the years of some of his promotions had to be estimated.  Using a four year interval between each promotion appears to be in line with rates at which men were promoted in the Royal Engineers during the late Victorian period.

7.      MILITARY TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS  

Military Training:  As far as it is known, Hodgson only received recruit training when he enlisted in the Royal Engineers.  However, since he ultimately was posted to the Establishment for Engineer Services as a Foreman of Works, it is most likely that he attended such courses as necessary to receive this qualification.

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

NOTE:  These are the only two qualifications that he received where the dates are definitely known.

8.      MEDALS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

            As previously indicated Hodgson missed both major wars and all of the minor campaigns that took place during his period of service from 1888 to 1924.  The only medal to which he was entitled is the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Edward VII) that was awarded to him in 1907.[16]  This medal is shown in Figure 8 below.  Without a doubt he served in an exemplary manner and proudly during his 36 years in the Corps of Royal Engineers.  He went where the Army sent him and did his duty to the best of his ability; however, unlike many of his fellow Sappers he did not receive many medals, awards or decorations.[17]

            In addition to the Boer War and the Great War, the following is a list of campaigns that took place while Hodgson was serving (sometimes known as Queen Victoria’s Little Wars):

·         Egypt, 1882-1889

·         East and West Africa, 1887-1900

·         Central Africa, 1891-1898

·         Numerous campaigns in India, 1895-1902

·         Ashanti Expedition, 1895-1896

·         Sudan Campaign, 1896-1897

·         East and Central Africa, 1897-1899

·         Ashanti Campaign, 1900

·         Third China War, 1900

·         Numerous campaigns in Africa, 1902-1920

·         Numerous campaigns in India, from 1908

            Units of the Royal Engineers were involved in these campaigns, but Frederick Charles Hodgson took part in none of them.  This is truly remarkable since most men who served in the Royal Engineers during the late Victorian period got to serve in at least one of the campaigns listed above or in the war in South Africa between 1899 and 1902.  Hodgson’s service record is truly an exception to what was the rule in the British Army at that time.

 9.  MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

Marriage

            Frederick Charles Hodgson married Ann Rose Reilly in Castries, the capital of St. Lucia, in 1892.[18]  Little information is known about Ann Rose or her family except that she had been born in Castries.  If Hodgson was only a Lance Corporal when they married, as has been estimated by the author, it was unusual for a soldier of such low rank with only four years of total service to be allowed to marry.

Family Information

            Frederick’s father, John Hodgson died in 1908 and his mother Mary Harriet Hodgson died in 1925.  However, among his siblings Frederick lived the longest.

·         His sister Laura died in 1920 at the age of only 40.

·         His brother Alfred died in London on the 28^th of February 1940.

·         His brother Percy died in 1941.

·         His brother Ernest died in Rochester, Kent in 1945.

·         His brother Herbert died in 1952.

·         His sister Ada died in Croydon, Surrey in March of 1954

·         His wife Ann died in Toronto, Ontario on the 24^th of February 1958.

·         His brother Walter died in 1962.

            No information could be found regarding the death of his brother Isaac.  Isaac was about the same age as Percy. 

                                    10.  RELEASE FROM SERVICE

            Captain Hodgson retired from the Army on the 25^th of August 1924.  His total service was reckoned as shown in the tables below:

NOTES:  All periods of service at the various stations are estimates.  If Hodgson’s service papers are ever obtained, these dates will be corrected with more precise information.

11.  POST SERVICE LIFE  

            Captain Hodgson retired on the 25^th of August 1924 and on the 30^th of August he and his wife arrived in Quebec, Canada aboard S.S. Empress of France.  Hodgson completed the “Declaration of Passenger to Canada” form indicating that he was a Captain in the Royal Engineers on retired pay, age 54, and that the object of his trip was to settle with relations in Canada.  He indicated that he planned to join his cousin, Mr. Charles Bolton, of 574 Milverton Boulevard in Toronto and that he intended to remain permanently in Canada. 

Figure 9.  The Home of Hodgson Cousin at 574 Milverton Boulevard in Toronto.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)

            Hodgson further indicated that he was English by birth and that he was a Catholic.  He had never lived in Canada and had never been refused entry to, or been deported from Canada.  He stated on the form that neither he nor any member of his family was mentally defective, that he was not tubercular, not physically defective nor otherwise debarred under Canadian Immigration Law.  He claimed to be in possession of £100 and that his nearest relative in England was his mother, Mrs. Harriett Hodgson, who was living at 43 Rossett Road, Great Crosby, near Liverpool.  Presumably Ann Rose Hodgson had to fill out the same immigration form.

            The Hodgson remained in Canada for about a year and in August of 1925 they sailed aboard S.S. Ascania from Montreal bound for England.  Their home address at the time was 24 St. Georges Road, London and they appear to have lived at this address until sometime in 1932.

Figure 10.  The Hodgson Home at 24 St. Georges Road, London.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)  

            Although Frederick Hodgson had declared in 1924 that he and his wife intended to permanently reside in Canada they did not do so until about 1949.  From 1932 to 1949 they appear to have been living at 72 Brighton Road in Worthing, Sussex.  This was the address of a rather a small attached house that is now in a business district on Brighton Road.

            At the time that he and his wife were living in Worthing they may have been subsisting on only his retired pay.  Later, when they move to Canada, they were able to purchase or rent a much larger house.  This situation may have come about by Frederick inheriting some money from a family member, perhaps one of his brothers.

Figure 11.  The Former Hodgson Home at 72 Brighton Road in Worthing, Sussex.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth).  

            By 1949 the Hodgsons were living at 742 Kingston Road in Toronto, Ontario.  This was a considerable improvement over their home in Sussex.  

Figure 12.  The Hodgson Home at 742 Kingston Road in Toronto.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)

            By 1957 they had moved once again, this time to 241 Willow Avenue in Toronto.

Figure 13.  The Hodgson Home at 241 Willow Avenue in Toronto.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)  

            Ann Rose Hodgson died on the 24^th of February 1958 at the age of 90.  Frederick appears to have left his house on Willow Avenue not too long after her death and entered a care facility at 3276 St. Clair Avenue East in Scarborough, Ontario.  This is the address of a Providence health care facility for long term care.  Frederick Charles Hodgson died at this facility in 1963 at the age of 93.

REFERENCES  

Army Lists  

1.      Monthly Army List, April 1907, p. 1545.
2.      Monthly Army List, June 1907, p. 1545.
3.       Monthly Army List, October 1910, p. 1544.
4.      Monthly Army List, December 1910, p. 1544.
5.      Monthly Army List, January 1911, p. 1382.
6.      Monthly Army List, October 1911, p. 1544.
7.      Monthly Army List, December 1911, p. 1544.
8.      Monthly Army List, December 1912, p. 2271.
9.      Monthly Army List, April 1914, p. 807.
10.  Monthly Army List, February 1915, p. 807a.
11.  Harts Annual Army List, 1915, p. 807a.
12.  Quarterly Army List, October 1916, p. 1646.
13.  Quarterly Army List, December 1917, p. 1707.
14.  Army List, 1918.
15.  Monthly Army List, June 1919, p. 800e.
16.  Monthly Army List, December 1920, p815.
17.  Army List, 1921, p. 816.
18.  Army List, 1922, p. 815.
19.  Hart’s Annual Army List (Special Reserve and Territorial Force), 1915.  

Census  

1. 1871 Census of England.
2. 1881 Census of England.
3. 1911 Census of England and Wales.

Correspondence  

FARRINGTON, J.  Letter dated 8 November 1998, re: Details Concerning the Service of Captain F.C. Hodgson, R.E. from Army Lists and Other Official Documents.  

Documents  

1. Masonic Ledger, Anchor of Hope Lodge, Wellington, Madras, 1900.
2. Toronto Electoral Register, 1957.
3. Scarborough Electoral Register, 1963.

Internet Web Sites  

1. Hodgart Family Tree: Greg Bolton.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/7260174/person/25554781840/facts

2. Hodgart Family Tree: Stephanie Weaver.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/111438490/person/320089435785/facts

3. Fortfinder. 

https://fsgfort.com/fortfinder/tag/st-lucia/

4. Google Earth.
   
5. Lane’s Masonic Records. https://www.dhi.ac.uk/lane/browseyear.php?searchType=year&startYear=1860&orderBy=LodgeName&sortOrder=DESC&offset=350
   
6. Morne Fortune. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morne_Fortune  

Medal Rolls  

Royal Engineers Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Roll, WO 102/17.  

Passenger List  

1. S.S. Ascania, Montreal and Quebec to Plymouth and London, August 1925.
2. Declaration of Passenger arriving in Toronto, Canada

Research Service  

Forces War Records  

Royal Engineers Lists  

1. Royal Engineers List, 1905, pp. xxviii, xxiv and xxix.
2. Royal Engineers List, 1912, pp. xxi and xxiii.
3. Royal Engineers List, October 1932, p. xxxiv.
4. Royal Engineers Retired List, 1943.
5. Royal Engineers Retired List, 1962.

ENDNOTES