In 2017, the Saltaire Collection received a donation of World War One medals belonging to Lance Corporal Thomas Hodson that were found in the cellar of a house in Saltaire. Through local news items and the help of a local historian we were able to trace his relatives who were than reunited with these medals. The family generously decided to leave these in the collection.
Lance Corporal Hodson was born in Shipley and was a warehouseman at The Conditioning House in Bradford prior to enlistment. Hodson’s Division landed in Le Harve, France in August 1915. They served in front line trenches and several battles, including the Battle of the Somme where Hodson was killed in action on the 29th July 1916. He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial in the Somme and on the Rolls of Honour at Nabs Wood cemetery in Shipley, St Paul’s, and St Peter’s Church in Shipley.
Lance Corporal Hodson was born in 1892, son of Tom and Rosa Hodson. His service number was 13083. His medals and memorabilia from World War 1 are The ‘Pip, Squeak and Wilfred’ medals (the popular names for The 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal respectively) and a ‘Dead Man’s Penny’ which was issued to next of kin of all British and Empire service personnel killed as a result of the war. In addition, a Princess Mary Gift Fund 1914 box was a present for all those serving during Christmas 1914, the box contents included cigarettes and/or chocolate, a photo of Princess Mary and a signed card. These and other items relating to Lance Corporal Hodson are in the Saltaire Collection.
Lance Corporal Hodson’s story is told in mode detail on the Saltaire Village website.