W. N. Hodgson
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W. N. Hodgson MC |
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Hodgson in uniform c. 1915
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| Born |
William Noel Hodgson 3 January 1893 Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England |
| Died | 1 July 1916 (aged 23) Somme, France |
| Resting place | Devonshire Cemetery, Picardy, France |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Durham School |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
| Occupation | Soldier and poet |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
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| Service/branch |
 British Army
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| Years of service | 1914-1916 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Devonshire Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Mentioned in Despatches Military Cross |
William Noel Hodgson MC (3 January 1893 – 1 July 1916) was an English poet of the First World War. During the war, he published stories and poems under the pen name Edward Melbourne.
Hodgson was the fourth and youngest child of Henry Bernard Hodgson, the first Bishop of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich. He was born at Thornbury, near Bristol, but the family soon moved to Berwick-upon-Tweed. He entered into The School House of Durham School in September 1905 on a King's Scholarship. He steered in the second crew in 1907; was in the XI, 1910, 1911; and in the XV, 1910. He won the Steeplechase in 1909 and 1911. He left Durham in July 1911, with Gallipoli war poet and friend Nowell Oxland, for Oxford University where he was an exhibitioner of Christ Church. He obtained a first-class degree in Classical Moderations in March 1913 and decided to stay and do Greats.
Known as "Smiler" to his friends, he volunteered for the British Army on the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and served in the 9th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. For the first year of the War he was training in England, before landing at Le Havre on 28 July 1915 and being sent to trenches near Festubert. His first major offensive came on 25 September during the Battle of Loos. He was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross for holding a captured trench for 36 hours without reinforcements or supplies during the battle and he was subsequently promoted to lieutenant.
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