HODGES John William

Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Citation for Distinguished Conduct Medal, London Gazette, 17th December 1914:
9419 Cpl. J.W. Hodges 2nd Bn.
For gallant conduct and very good work during the attack on 21st October.

The following report appears in Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 7th November 1914:
Worcester Corporal Killed
The rumour spread in the city some days ago to the effect that Corporal Hodges, of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (son of Mr and Mrs F. Hodges, of Red Hill) had been killed in action, proves unhappily, to be true.  Mr and Mrs Hodges heard a rumour which had undoubtedly emanated from a soldier who had returned from the front, but they were buoyed up by the fact that they had received no official intimation from the War Office. Now they have received a letter from a friend of their son, Lance-Corpl. Stuckey, a member of the Worcestershire County Police, stationed at Cradley Heath, which states that Corpl. Hodges died on October 21st.  Lance-Corpl. Stuckey is himself wounded, and wrote on Wednesday from Aberdeen Hospital.  He says:- “I expect by this time you have heard of the sad news of your poor Jack being killed on the 21st of last month.  I saw him about an hour before we started the attack, and he was in the best of health and spirits. We started this attack, and Jack was carrying ammunition to a Section of the D Company, as they were running short.  When he got there he found that the Section had nobody in charge, so Jack got the section together, and carried on with the attack along with the rest of the Regiment.  Jack took the Section through a gap in the hedge, and as soon as they were through the German machine guns opened heavy fire, and Jack was found there with a bullet in the head, so he did not suffer.  It happened only about 300 yards from me, but I didn’t know till three days after, and I didn’t see him anymore.  I missed him terribly, and express my deepest sorrow and sympathy with you.  He was buried by his chums. His closest chum got seriously wounded near him.  One of the Scouts has got his watch, and if he is spared he is going to send it to you.”  P.C. Stuckey added that he (Stuckey) was slightly wounded on the 27th by a piece of shrapnel on the shoulder, but the injury is not a serious one.
Much sympathy has been expressed in Red Hill to Mr and Mrs Hodges, in the loss of their only son.  He was very well known, and highly respected in red Hill.  Only 21 years of age, he had been in the Army for four years.  Formerly he was in the St Peter’s Lads’ Brigade.

A photograph of Corporal J.W. Hodges of Worcester can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 26th December 1914, available at Worcestershire Archives.

John Hodges has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.