Martin Hodson
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Sapper Samuel Hodson
My great uncle, Samuel Hodson, was born in Stafford England in 1873, and seemed destined for a fairly settled life. In the 1901 census of Stafford he was an accountant's clerk.
However, sometime after 1901, Samuel appears to have emigrated to Australia. He took up residence in a town called Nymagee in New South Wales. The area is in the Cobar region and historically there were many copper mines in the area. Samuel became a miner. We think the copper started to run out by about 1917.
In 1917, he enlisted as a sapper (Service Number-7837) in the 2nd Tunnelling Company. He gave Ethel Mannion (niece) as next of kin). He sailed from Melbourne on 21 November 1917 aboard the troop ship A71 HMAT Nestor. His group went as reinforcements to the 2nd Tunelling Company, which had just been involved in the Flanders campaign. Military records indicate that the group was HQ'd in various places during Samuel's time with them. Fortunately for Samuel he arrived in France not that long before the end of the war.
It is clear from his war record that Samuel survived the war and returned to Australia on 27 April 1919. He was demobbed and given three (fairly standard) medals.
Our big question is "what happened next?". We have searched the available records for a marriage (he was still single when he enrolled), or a death, but nothing. Is there any sort of Anzac Association that would have kept in touch with men like Samuel after the war? Any other suggestions welcome- particularly ones that can be attempted from Oxford, England!
Best Wishes,
Martin Hodson
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2/23/2006, 5:33 am
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ghosken
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Re: Sapper Samuel Hodson
Martin, I think you will find that Samuel has only two medals. He would not have been entitled to the 1914/15 Star. There would be an 'NE' for not eligible on the stamp on his service record.
I'm assuming you have searched the NSW births, death, marriages website, which has marriages up to 1945. There is very little at Nymagee now, but Cobar still operates large mines. Perhaps he went back to western NSW. Would be very hard to find any trace of him without a large pinch of luck. I have school students scattered across western NSW who are required to do a cemetery study in Year 10. I will ask them to keep an eye out.
Did you know that a Memorial is being planned for the Tunnellers? I can email details if you like.
Graeme
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2/23/2006, 10:44 pm
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Martin Hodson
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Re: Sapper Samuel Hodson
Dear Graeme,
You are totally correct- it does have NE on the 1914/15 Star. He had a British War Medal and a Victory Medal. I only discovered Samuel was an ANZAC last month, so this is totally new territory to me! Yes, I have searched the online databases of NSW, and all the others that have an on-line facility- nothing! I think a large slice of luck is going to be required to find anything more about him, but you never know.
Yes, I would like to know about the Memorial for the Tunellers- I had never heard of them until last month either!
Thanks for your help.
Best Wishes,
Martin
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2/24/2006, 5:02 am
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ghosken
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Re: Sapper Samuel Hodson
Martin, can you send me your email address, and I will attach the article on the Tunnellers.
ghoskenaif at bigpond.com
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2/26/2006, 9:44 pm
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kpfitz
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Re: Sapper Samuel Hodson
Dear Graeme,
I too am researching a WW1 2nd tunneller, my husbands great grandfather Sapper Patrick Joseph Fitzgerald (8013). He was also on the troop ship "Nestor".I would be very interested in any information regarding the memorial to the Tunnellers. In particular, any photographs, particularly of Spr. Fitzgerald as none exist within the family.
Regards,
Karen
Last edited by kpfitz, 4/26/2006, 12:30 am
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4/26/2006, 12:20 am
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