Pte. G/8970 HODGKIN W. 6th Btn, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Hodgkin, William. DoD: 01/05/1917. Age: 28. Son of: Charles and Abigail Mary (Brown) Hodgkin. Occ: Farm Labourer. Unit text: 6th Btn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Cemetery: ARRAS MEMORIAL.

William was born October 1890, Pembury, Kent and the family moved to Brenchley. Sadly, his father died in 1911 and the census of that year showed the family were living in Herstmonceux, East Sussex.

From Herstmonceux, the family moved to School House Farm cottages in Horsmonden, Kent where William was a farm labourer. He enlisted 27th November 1915 at the local recruitment office in neighbouring Goudhurst.

William fought at the Battle of the Somme and engaged in the fierce fighting fell 1st May, 1917. Like thousands of soldiers who perished in that bloody conflict, William’s body was not recovered and he is commemorated at the Arras Memorial for servicemen with no known grave.