Pte HHodskinson 26007, Ches R, 56372 14th RWF KIA 22 Apr 1918

[ATNOMIS]

Pals

 

I have just bought HERBERT HODGKINSONTrio

He is a local man remebered in The Church of St John the Divine, Burwardsley. My family plot is in the same church so my family would have know the family

1901 Living in 61 High Town Burwardsley Father Charles and Mother Ann elder sister Maggie. Herbert aged 5

 

1911 Herbert  and Maggie were no longer living with the family home but an elder sister Mary aged 32 was. She was a domestic servant.

The family had moved to Peckforton Gale Burwardsley Tattenhall Chester

 

Mic Entered the the Balkans 17.11.1915

Name:	Herbert Hodskinson
Military Year:	1914-1915
Rank:	Private
Medal Awarded:	1914-15 Star
Regiment or Corps:	The Royal Welsh (Welch) Fusiliers
Regimental Number:	26007
Previous Units:	8th Bn. Ches. Regt.

 

Name:	Herbert Hodskinson
Military Year:	1914-1920
Rank:	Private
Medal Awarded:	British War Medal and Victory Medal
Regiment or Corps:	The Royal Welsh (Welch) Fusiliers
Regimental Number:	56372
Previous Units:	8/Ches R. Pte. 26007, Ches R. Infantry Base Depot., 14/R.W. Fus. 56372, 14/R.W. Fus., 14/R.W. Fus.

The War Diaries read

 

 

 

 

 

11^th 4 18

Details under Maj Wheldon marched to CONTAY and VADENCOURT. The Battalion relieved the 6^th Royal West Kents in support to the front line. Relief complete 2.45am (12.4.18).

21^st 4 18

The Battalion received part of 17^th RWF and part of the 17^th Royal Scots in front line. Dispostions C on right D on the left. A & B coys in reserve, Relief complete 2.30 am (22 4 18) (maps attached)

22 4 18

The 113 Inf Bde attacked Zero hour 7.30 pm. Dispostions as per attached maps. Two companies C & D moved forward in their waves at zero hour at which time B coy moved ip and occupied the line vacated- Battn HQ & A coy remained Stationary. Over own barrage was somewhat ragged, The enemy put down a barrage very quickly near our front line. Their machine gun barrage was very accurate on our advancing lines and casualties were heavy. Neither company reached their first objective but were held up on a line about 150 yards in front of our orginal Line.

The 16^th RWF left flank only reached the sunken road in W 15 a consiquently C coy was withdrawn to the orgial line. D coy was relieved by a platoon of B coy in their line of shell holes about 150 x ahead of our orginal line, and liaison was made with the 19^th DLI on the left.

 

Page 311

During the action our officer 2^nd Lt HUXLEY was killed. 2^nd Lieut G oRICHARDS Died of Wounds and Lieut J G Webb and 2^nd Lt M Evans were wounded Cpl Elias JONES (DCM,MM (bar)) died of wounds. The casualties au?????g other ranks were 5 killed 95 wounded and 14 missing.

23^rd 4 18 Battalion relieved in their sector of the front line by18th Lancs Regt. Our completion of relief the dispostions were as follows : Battn HQ & A coy W 14 d B coy Support Line in W 14 d C&D coys in bank at W13d

 

Burwardsley History Booklet - Tattenhall History

 

 

Name:	Herbert Hodskinson
Birth Place:	Burwardsley, Ches
Residence:	Burwardsley
Death Date:	22 Apr 1918
Death Place:	France and Flanders
Enlistment Place:	Chester
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	The Royal Welsh (Welch) Fusiliers
Battalion:	14th Battalion
Regimental Number:	56372
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre
Comments:	Formerly 26007, Cheshire Regiment

Edited 21 February , 2018 by ATNOMIS

[ATNOMIS]

Map 1

 

Map 2

 

Map 3

[ATNOMIS]

Second Lieutenant HUXLEY, JOSEPH

Joseph came from the small Welsh village of Holt on the River Dee around 7 miles south of Chester. He lived in Lilac House, a small terraced house facing the village green and cross, and his name is on the local war memorial, also situated on the green opposite his house.

 

Second Lieutenant GWILYM OWEN RICHARDS,

Gwilym Richards was the son of Mr William Richards, Fish merchant, and Mrs A Richards, Bodifir, Bangor.  Educated at Ysgol Friars, he worked in London City and Midland Bank, Colwyn Bay, before the war.  He volunteered to service the army in 1915, joining the Royal Welch Fusiliers (14^th Battalion).  During at attack on 22 April 1918, he was mortally wounded, dying in a hospital the following day, aged 21.  He is buried at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme.

Edited 21 February , 2018 by ATNOMIS

[ATNOMIS]

Major W.P. Wheldon

https://www.bangor.ac.uk/archives/archive-of-the-month-dec16.php.en

[clive_hughes]

The attack on Bouzincourt Ridge: since 2nd RWF were also involved it is described in Frank Richards' Old Soldiers Never Die, and Dr Dunn's The War The Infantry Knew, as well as the RWF Regimental History.  

 

In brief a bloody little action, aiming to secure observation into the Ancre valley (the position is on a ridge above Albert, then in enemy hands).  It partially succeeded, and a little bit more was added in a subsequent operation days later.  Sources blame an inadequate covering barrage, but it's worth visiting the spot - it's virtually unchanged from 1918.  They were attacking steeply uphill with no cover whatever, in muddy conditions.  The lonely little cemetery on the top of the ridge holds many of the casualties, others are in the Bouzincourt village cemetery.  

 

Maj. Wheldon's diaries are in effect the same as the official unit ones, but an interesting collection nevertheless!  I have 6 Anglesey fatalities that day, plus a few others dying of wounds up to 8 days later.  One of the 13th RWF men, Thomas Thomas  MM MSM (buried on the hill) has a picture and a poem in his honour written by Squire Yorke of Erddig mansion near Wrexham, on display at that place.  

 

Clive

[ATNOMIS]

Clive

 

Thank you.

 

Simon

[ATNOMIS]

Pals

Here are the medals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[clive_hughes]

Interesting that the medal roll & medals have a misspelling of his surname, though clearly it's the right guy.  Guess his family never returned the set for "adjustment" as it often states on the medal Cards.

 

Clive

[ATNOMIS]

Burwardsley History Booklet - Tattenhall History

 

Has a write up on him and the misspelling

[clive_hughes]

Thanks for posting the little booklet, Atnomis,

Burwardesley isn't all that far from us, though we're within Wales.  

 

Clive

[ATNOMIS]

Clive

 

I go to the church every couple of weeks. My Mums family are from Burwardsley the Manleys and Duttons. My sisters buried with my Grandparents

Its a beautiful church

 

Simon