In Memory of Private William Hodgetts
9th Battalion (formerly 5th
Battalion) Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Who died aged 24 on Thursday, 4th
October 1917
Remembered with Honour
Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
World War I William Edward Hodgetts
born 11th of October 1893 died. Ypres Belgium 4 October 1917.
Everyone called him Bill. He referred to himself as `Will´.
Bill’s family originated in Staffordshire and probably came to Doncaster to find work.
Living at, 40 Edlington Street, Denaby Main, near Doncaster, he was the oldest child of a family of nine surviving children. His siblings were Annie, Florence, Emily, Harold, Jesse, Lillian, Fred and Elsie.
Bill was a bright lad who had to work down the pit as that was the only work available locally and his wages were needed to help to support the family. He was a devout Christian and attended the local Methodist Chapel regularly during his short life.
He tried to encourage young people in Chapel activities, and was responsible for organising the Boys Brigade and arranged outings for the young lads to enjoy. He and his charges were proud of their distinctive uniforms and were often seen marching with the Methodist band, to mark important dates on the Christian Calendar
He became a lay preacher and would talk of his strong Christian faith to all who would listen.
Bill carried his small black leather bound Bible around with him even when he went to work. His Bible was his trusty shield. A red prayer book was another treasured possession.
The family was delighted when he announced his engagement to local schoolteacher Elsie and they planned to marry as soon as they had saved enough money. Elsie knew that when a teacher married she must give up her chosen profession.
The rumblings of war were in the background and then came the dreaded call to arms.
“Your country needs you.”
Bill was one of the first to respond. He was only 21 years of age, but he was called up to do his duty, and enlisted at Conisbrough. He was attached to the Kings Home Yorkshire Light Infantry, 5th Battalion (later 9th Battalion) like many other young Doncaster recruits. He was shipped out to France in June 1915.
Letters arrived home but there was nothing mentioned about his ordeal as he obviously didn’t want to alarm the folks back home. He just enquired about members of his beloved family and news of his fiancee Elsie.
He did send a postcard from a Canadian field hospital to his mother. Bill also sent a photo to his sister Elsie, showing Ypres before the war.
He did come home on leave on one known occasion which was around Christmas. Of course, he attended his Chapel as usual along with his fiancee and enjoyed a loving family occasion. His parents, and close loved ones worried constantly about him.
Our present-day knowledge of Bill, his character, emotions and his tragic death at such an early age, has been passed down through his family, to our own generation.
The third battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) began 5 am 31 July 1917.
The Battle was now at its height. Bill’s best friend had just returned to the Allied trench after a particularly horrid wave of enemy fire. It was now Bill´s turn to go over the top and face the terrible onslaught. Just before he climbed out to join the rest of his Unit, he turned to friend gave him his trusty Bible with the words “please promise that if I don’t come back, make sure that Mother gets this”!
One soldier reported that he had seen Bill badly wounded making his way to the Red Cross Station.
Bill was never seen again!
It was thought that Bill being badly injured, must have fallen into a deep flooded Shell hole and had drowned.
The little black Bibledid come to hisMother and is a treasured keepsake within the family. His red Prayer Book is also in safekeeping.
After the War, volunteers were requested to travel to the Battle Grounds to bury the dead. Bill’s father and brother, Harold, went to a Ypres / Passchendaele to carry out this grim task hoping to find their loved ones remain, but all was to no avail.
Perhaps Bill is the body of the country’s unknown soldier!
The family never got over his loss.
Elsie his fiancee never married but instead devoted herself to teaching.
Many decades later members of his family were able to make an emotional pilgrimage to Ypres to see the Wall Graves at Time Cart Cemetery. They placed a family wreath at the foot of a large stone plaque bearing his name
May Bill and his comrades rest in peace!
Researched and created by:
Lilian Bell (Niece of William Edward Hodgetts Jnr)
Dennis Hodgetts (Nephew of William Edward Hodgetts Jnr
My grandma was Annie Williams sister