HODGKINS, CHARLES
Photograph with kind permission of the Uttoxeter Advertiser
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CWGC |
SDGW |
Uttoxeter Advertiser |
Other |
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Parents |
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Where born |
Uttoxeter |
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Yes |
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When born |
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Address |
8, John Street, Uttoxeter |
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Spouse |
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Children |
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Employment Before Joining up |
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Where enlisted |
Uttoxeter |
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Yes |
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Regiment |
North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales’s) |
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Yes |
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Unit |
11th and then 1st Bn. |
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1st Bn. |
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Yes |
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Rank |
Private |
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Yes |
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Service Number |
16968 |
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Date of Death |
18 July 1916 |
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Age at time of death |
29 |
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Where Killed or died |
Ypres salient - Wolverghem |
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France/Flanders |
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Yes |
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How he died |
Killed in Action |
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Yes |
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Location of Grave or Memorial |
Ration Farm (La Plus Douve) Annexe Grave: III.B.1. |
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Awards |
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Charles Hodgkins is something of an enigmatic character. The town memorials and the CWGC register list him as Charles Duffield, whereas the CWGC record says that he served as Hodgkins.
His parents were Edward and Ann Hodgkins, of 8, John Street, Uttoxeter, Staffs.
A relative, Garren Ewing, whom we contacted via the internet, says that the Hodgkins have Gypsy ancestors.
He enlisted on 12th October 1915, and ‘underwent a serious operation’ in order to qualify for active service. He was formerly in the 11th North Staffordshire Regiment, and was subsequently transferred to the 1st Battalion.
The roll of honour says that he died at Wolverghem
It is proving difficult to determine what happened to him. On the day he died, the entry in the regimental diary for his battalion says the following: “Prepared for gas demonstration, but wind unfavourable, so no demo done.”
As this does not include any casualty reports, we can only conclude that he probably died from wounds sustained in some earlier action. The last previous reported in the war diary took place on the 29th June 1916, almost 3 weeks before. On that day there had been heavy shelling with some casualties. All war diary entries after that report record quiet days with no casualties.