H.G. Hodson -- a half German conscientious objector

[FrancesH]

This man's story is interesting in itself, and I have some questions with which the GWF may be able to help.

Although Harry George Hodson (b. 1883) was born in Walthamstow, he was half German -- his mother was Marta Maria Kaupisch. In 1913 he married Gertrud Maria Helene Biedenkapp in Frankfurt. The couple had a daughter (Susella) born in Frankfurt in1914, after which they returned to England, where Harry worked for the family business (H. Hodson and Co, oil merchants and colour suppliers) in Upper Thames Street. In August 1916 he appeared before the Walthamstow Tribunal, and declared that he was a conscientious objector (CO) 'as a result of many years' thought and study'. He explained that his wife and mother were both German and that his uncle was 'His Excellency Dr Wiegart, Imperial Public Prosecutor of the German Empire'. The Tribunal decided to postpone any decision about conscription until the Home Secretary should decide whether Hodson should be interned as an enemy alien (Woodford Times 8.8.1916). I have found no further direct information about this, but evidently it was decided that Hodson should not be interned, as he was conscripted on 8 Feb 1917 and posted to 5 Royal Fusiliers Depot. He was 'in hospital' until 14 Feb, then sent to Wormwood Scrubs on 16 March. His claim to be a CO was rejected and he was returned to his unit, specifically to the guard room of the Duke of York's School, Dover, on 5 May. Here, on 6 May, he cut his right wrist with a razor, damaging the nerves and tendons and leaving the fingers 'semi flexed'. The medical superintendent of the local asylum declared Hodson 'not insane'. The service record has nothing further, but I presume he had to be discharged as his right hand would not be useable. Hodson died in Frankfurt on 21 Dec 1923. 

Some questions and comments:

Can anyone shed light on 'Dr Weigart, Imperial Public Prosecutor of the German Empire'? He sounds like an important person, and if so it seems a little surprising that his niece married a clerk from Walthamstow. 

I suspect that he may have suffered some physical abuse at the RF Depot, hence the Feb 1917 trip to hospital. Army guardrooms were the most frequent location I've found for attacks on COs, not surprisingly. A half German CO would be a pretty inviting target, unfortunately.

I found it surprising that Hodson was able to lay his hands on a razor: in prisons like the Scrubs considerable effort went into keeping any possible means of suicide out of prisoner's hands (they were shaved randomly by warders). It seems to me possible that this was a suicide attempt rather than an attempt to make himself unfit for the army: he probably felt pretty desperate by then, but of course without further information this is only guesswork.

Any other thoughts/comments/information welcomed!

This is part of my ongoing investigation into the stories of all COs admitted to Wormwood Scrubs in March 1917 -- there are other threads if anyone's interested. 

 

 

[FROGSMILE]

33 minutes ago, FrancesH said:

This man's story is interesting in itself, and I have some questions with which the GWF may be able to help.

Although Harry George Hodson (b. 1883) was born in Walthamstow, he was half German -- his mother was Marta Maria Kaupisch. In 1913 he married Gertrud Maria Helene Biedenkapp in Frankfurt. The couple had a daughter (Susella) born in Frankfurt in1914, after which they returned to England, where Harry worked for the family business (H. Hodson and Co, oil merchants and colour suppliers) in Upper Thames Street. In August 1916 he appeared before the Walthamstow Tribunal, and declared that he was a conscientious objector (CO) 'as a result of many years' thought and study'. He explained that his wife and mother were both German and that his uncle was 'His Excellency Dr Wiegart, Imperial Public Prosecutor of the German Empire'. The Tribunal decided to postpone any decision about conscription until the Home Secretary should decide whether Hodson should be interned as an enemy alien (Woodford Times 8.8.1916). I have found no further direct information about this, but evidently it was decided that Hodson should not be interned, as he was conscripted on 8 Feb 1917 and posted to 5 Royal Fusiliers Depot. He was 'in hospital' until 14 Feb, then sent to Wormwood Scrubs on 16 March. His claim to be a CO was rejected and he was returned to his unit, specifically to the guard room of the Duke of York's School, Dover, on 5 May. Here, on 6 May, he cut his right wrist with a razor, damaging the nerves and tendons and leaving the fingers 'semi flexed'. The medical superintendent of the local asylum declared Hodson 'not insane'. The service record has nothing further, but I presume he had to be discharged as his right hand would not be useable. Hodson died in Frankfurt on 21 Dec 1923. 

Some questions and comments:

Can anyone shed light on 'Dr Weigart, Imperial Public Prosecutor of the German Empire'? He sounds like an important person, and if so it seems a little surprising that his niece married a clerk from Walthamstow. 

I suspect that he may have suffered some physical abuse at the RF Depot, hence the Feb 1917 trip to hospital. Army guardrooms were the most frequent location I've found for attacks on COs, not surprisingly. A half German CO would be a pretty inviting target, unfortunately.

I found it surprising that Hodson was able to lay his hands on a razor: in prisons like the Scrubs considerable effort went into keeping any possible means of suicide out of prisoner's hands (they were shaved randomly by warders). It seems to me possible that this was a suicide attempt rather than an attempt to make himself unfit for the army: he probably felt pretty desperate by then, but of course without further information this is only guesswork.

Any other thoughts/comments/information welcomed!

This is part of my ongoing investigation into the stories of all COs admitted to Wormwood Scrubs in March 1917 -- there are other threads if anyone's interested. 

 

 

Very interesting Frances.  I rather feel sorry for him and it seems very insensitive of HMG given that he had a German mother as well as German wife, to not consider giving him alternative work to do for the war effort.  It seems pretty obvious that he was probably bilingual, and he could have been, e.g. a translator or even interpreter for PW once he was trusted.  To not at least try something like that seems self defeating and obdurate.  The poor fellow then died relatively soon after the war and at a time when Germany was in dire straits with starvation in some areas and disease attacking weakened constitutions.  I wonder if the Spanish flu pandemic got him. 

Edited 21 May , 2024 by FROGSMILE

[FrancesH]

Hi Frogsmile! 

Yes, a translator's job would have been ideal, wouldn't it? Good thought about the flu. I'd be interested to see what his death certificate said, if I knew how to get hold of it.

[FROGSMILE]

4 minutes ago, FrancesH said:

Hi Frogsmile! 

Yes, a translator's job would have been ideal, wouldn't it? Good thought about the flu. I'd be interested to see what his death certificate said, if I knew how to get hold of it.

Some of our German experts and forum members might be able to advise.  @charlie2 @GreyC?

[FrancesH]

German expertise would be most gratefully received. 

[GreyC]

5 hours ago, FrancesH said:

Dr Weigart, Imperial Public Prosecutor of the German Empire

Is it the correct name or should it be Weigert?

It sound to me as if he could be a Staatsanwalt. So he is no less or more important than a prosecutor today.

Without a christian name and a place it will be difficult to find out more about him. My guess is either Frankfurt, the Provinz Hessen-Nassau (both Prussia) or surrounding Großherzogtum Hessen at large.

GreyC

PS: Charlie might help further as he has online access to data I don´t have.

PPS: There was a county-judge by the name of Carl Weigert listed in the Frankfurt addressbook of 1914.

Edited 21 May , 2024 by GreyC

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

45 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

 I wonder if the Spanish flu pandemic got him. 

It wouldn't have been the Spanish Flu in 1923 though, that pandemic is deemed to have died out in late 1920, or at the latest, the Northern Hemisphere winter of 1920-21.

It could well have been another form of influenza or pneumonia, or in fact...anything.

[FROGSMILE]

9 minutes ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said:

It wouldn't have been the Spanish Flu in 1923 though, that pandemic is deemed to have died out in late 1920, or at the latest, the Northern Hemisphere winter of 1920-21.

It could well have been another form of influenza or pneumonia, or in fact...anything.

Thanks Dai, I mulled over that it was a bit late for the Spanish flu, but wasn’t sure given the situation in Germany then.  Perhaps he had contracted TB, but as you say it could be anything.  I’m hoping that one of our German experts might track down a death certificate record, if it survives, as much was destroyed during 1945.

Edited 21 May , 2024 by FROGSMILE

[knittinganddeath]

1 hour ago, FrancesH said:

His claim to be a CO was rejected and he was returned to his unit, specifically to the guard room of the Duke of York's School, Dover, on 5 May. Here, on 6 May, he cut his right wrist with a razor.........

I found it surprising that Hodson was able to lay his hands on a razor: in prisons like the Scrubs considerable effort went into keeping any possible means of suicide out of prisoner's hands (they were shaved randomly by warders).
 

If he was indeed back with his unit at the time of his self-inflicted violence then presumably prison regulations wouldn't have applied and he would have been free to find himself a razor?

If he was a British citizen, his death may have been registered at the embassy/consulate although I do not know whether the cause of death would have been reported. Ancestry has some embassy records, although it seems a bit of a crapshoot.

Do you know if he had contact with other COs or CO organisations, or if because of his German heritage they were unwilling to acknowledge him?

[charlie2]

Unfortunately his death cert does not record a cause of death. 

Charlie
courtesy of Ancestry:

 

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, charlie2 said:

Unfortunately his death cert does not record a cause of death. 

Charlie
courtesy of Ancestry:

 

Brilliant that you could find it nonetheless Charlie.  Good job!

Edited 21 May , 2024 by FROGSMILE

[charlie2]

1 hour ago, FROGSMILE said:

Good job!

Is that a „well done“ or a „just as well you did find it“
If the Carl Weigert found by GreyC is the Uncle, he was Jewish and was found hung at his home in 1942. The Uncle could also have been Felix, Carl‘s father, he was a Landgerichtsrat a.D. and geheimer Justizrat.

Charlie

again courtesy of Ancestry

 

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, charlie2 said:

Is that a „well done“ or a „just as well you did find it“
If the Carl Weigert found by GreyC is the Uncle, he was Jewish and was found hung at his home in 1942. The Uncle could also have been Felix, Carl‘s father, he was a Landgerichtsrat a.D. and geheimer Justizrat.

Charlie

again courtesy of Ancestry

 

It was well done Charlie because I thought it unlikely it could be found.  The fact that you did so is very impressive and I wanted to thank you for responding (also GreyC).  The man’s story seems very sad to me, I think he must have suffered a lot mentally and I wondered if that might have contributed to his relatively early death.

Edited 21 May , 2024 by FROGSMILE

[GreyC]

4 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

I wondered if that might have contributed to his relatively early death.

I think that´s quite likely.

Incidentally, he worked as a bank-clerk when he died in Frankfurt. He died in a hospital, so he must have been ill.

GreyC

[FrancesH]

Wow, there's been so much action on this since yesterday -- thank you all so much for responding and particularly Charlie for the documents -- fantastic. I'm absolutely delighted that we have the death certificate, although it is disappointing there's no cause of death. I did wonder if he killed himself, as I feel sure that was his aim in that Dover guardroom. Evidently though as you say he must have been ill. 

It was asked further up the thread if I knew whether he had any contact with other COs or CO organisations. I only found out about this man yesterday, and all that I've found is in my original post above. It's extremely difficult to find out about contact with other CO organisations. I need to find a way to look through the relevant issues of the No Conscription Fellowship newspaper The Tribunal, preferably online, as these do include reports about individual COs, sometimes but rarely giving personal details. Usually it's just 'back in/out of prison'. A number of COs wrote accounts of their experiences for their families, churches, or political group at home, and an interesting selection of these was published by Peter Brock: 'These Strange Criminals', available here in PDF form:

https://web.english.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Brock_These_Strange_Criminals.pdf

This covers WW2 and Vietnam as well but the Great War ones are well chosen and contrast well with each other (and also demonstrate the central role HMP Wormwood Scrubs played in the CO story). 

[FROGSMILE]

10 minutes ago, FrancesH said:

Wow, there's been so much action on this since yesterday -- thank you all so much for responding and particularly Charlie for the documents -- fantastic. I'm absolutely delighted that we have the death certificate, although it is disappointing there's no cause of death. I did wonder if he killed himself, as I feel sure that was his aim in that Dover guardroom. Evidently though as you say he must have been ill. 

It was asked further up the thread if I knew whether he had any contact with other COs or CO organisations. I only found out about this man yesterday, and all that I've found is in my original post above. It's extremely difficult to find out about contact with other CO organisations. I need to find a way to look through the relevant issues of the No Conscription Fellowship newspaper The Tribunal, preferably online, as these do include reports about individual COs, sometimes but rarely giving personal details. Usually it's just 'back in/out of prison'. A number of COs wrote accounts of their experiences for their families, churches, or political group at home, and an interesting selection of these was published by Peter Brock: 'These Strange Criminals', available here in PDF form:

https://web.english.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Brock_These_Strange_Criminals.pdf

This covers WW2 and Vietnam as well but the Great War ones are well chosen and contrast well with each other (and also demonstrate the central role HMP Wormwood Scrubs played in the CO story). 

It will be worth researching the local newspapers where he lived too Frances.  The fact that he was both, a CO and with a German mother and and a German wife will have had the print media frothing at the mouth.  It’s a HUGE public interest story.

[FrancesH]

Hi Frogsmile, that was my first thought!! Unfortunately there is literally one item which is repeated word for word in the two local papers, giving his statement to the tribunal. I was so frustrated! I can't believe the story wasn't followed up. 

[FROGSMILE]

21 minutes ago, FrancesH said:

Hi Frogsmile, that was my first thought!! Unfortunately there is literally one item which is repeated word for word in the two local papers, giving his statement to the tribunal. I was so frustrated! I can't believe the story wasn't followed up. 

I should have realised you’d be ahead of the game.  I wonder if the story was deliberately suppressed.  We’d be naive to think that might not be a possibility.  MI5 (or whatever its predecessor was) was active and directed by the Home Office.

[charlie2]

Having a German mother and wife he was caught between a rock and a hard place which ever way he jumped. His wife doesn‘t appear to have been interned but no doubt she also didn‘t have things easy either. I don‘t suppose he had an easy start in Germany after the war either.

On 21/05/2024 at 18:19, FrancesH said:

little surprising that his niece married a clerk from Walthamstow.

He may have been a clerk at the time but I suspect he was in line to take over the family business, so maybe not such a bad choice.

22 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

It was well done Charlie

I know it was, it was just my poor attempt at a bit of humour. 

Charlie

[FROGSMILE]

20 minutes ago, charlie2 said:

I know it was, it was just my poor attempt at a bit of humour

Apologies Charlie, it’s probably more that I was too literal.