Name
Ernest Charles Hodsden
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/05/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16496
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Wall Memorial, Potten End, Not on the Berkhamsted Memorials
Pre War
Ernest Charles Hodsden was born in 1895 in Berkhamsted, Herts, the son of Charles and Margaret Hodsden.
On the 1901 Census, the family were living at Harefoot Farm Cottage, Great Berkhamsted, and his father was working as a Stockman on the Farm.
By the 1911 Census he had moved out of the family home and was a servant at the home of George Harding, a Farmer and Dairyman, and his family at Noake Mill House, Hemel Hempstead, Herts and was Assisting in the Milk Round.
Wartime Service
He enlisted into the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and served in France from 1 April 1915. The majority of April was taken up with attack practice and training.
He was killed in action and his death was presumed on 17 May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert. The Battalion were attacking enemy trenches and met heavy shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire. In the darkness they also encountered serious obstacles in the ditches, many filled with up the 5ft of water in which several men drowned.
Ernest has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.
Additional Information
Brother to Albert Edward Hodsden who was killed in action at Meaulte on 23 August 1918 and who is buried at Meaulte Military Cemetery, France. His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £7 10s 10d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
dacorumheritage.org.uk
