Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Colonel C. F. Hodgson, Indian Army, late Royal Artillery

1914 Star (58947 Bmbr: C. F. Hodgson. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. C. F. Hodgson.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; War Medal, very fine (7) £140-£180

Clarence Frederick Hodgson was born at Plymouth on 19 July 1896. He went to France and Belgium as a Bombardier in the 28th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, on 19 August 1914, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant R.A. on 8 August 1917, becoming Lieutenant on 9 August 1918, and Captain on 9 August 1921. He was appointed Captain in the Indian Army on 1st February 1929. The group is accompanied by his autobiography, From Hell To The Himalayas, published by King & Wilks, Westville, South Africa, 1983, 206pp. The fly-leaf gives a brief summary of his career thus:

‘Colonel C. F. Hodgson was born at Plymouth, England, on the 19th July, 1896, and was the eldest of three sons of an army family. His father and two brothers served in World War I, and they all lived to serve again in various capacities in World War II.

The author first saw action as a young gunner 2nd/Lt (sic) at the battle of Le Cateau in 1914. He then went on to survive for over three years in France and Belgium, taking part in some of the major battles of the Western Front. On a number of occasions he narrowly missed death, but it was only in October 1917, after being wounded by an enemy shell at Passchendaele, that he was finally evacuated to hospital in Northern Ireland.

After the war, Lt. Hodgson saw service in Ireland during the unrest, and was subsequently posted to India. Some years later he transferred from the Royal Artillery to the Indian Army, where he remained until retirement.

In 1946 Colonel Hodgson arrived in Durban en route to England. While waiting for an onward passage he became interested in the 1820 Settlers Association and was eventually appointed Durban branch secretary. He settled some 50,000 immigrants during the eighteen years that he was associated with the 1820 Settlers organisation. During this period he “settled” himself in Durban and became a South African citizen.’

Colonel Hodgson died in Durban on 9 September 1994.