Died: Killed in action
Address / Local links: 15 Leigh Place, Welling
Family / Relatives: Son of Alfred and Isabella
Local Papers / Websites: BHO 6th November 1942
Other Information: Welling Boys’ Central School pupil. A Shop Messenger (Bakers of Welling)
Raymond hodges and his family
Raymond was the youngest son of Alfred Charles Hodges (1886 – 1942) and Isabelle nee Edgar (1886 – 1946). Charles was born at Ryde on the Isle of Wight and Isabelle was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Raymond had four older siblings, Alfred Charles (1912 – 1975), Robert (1913 – 2001), Mary (1916 – 2004) all three were born in Londonderry. The fourth was Cyril (1921 – 1922) born in Welling as was Raymond on the 17th February 1923.
It would appear that the family moved to Welling possibly at the end of 1920 as they are found on the 1921 census living with Alfred’s brother Bertie and his family on the Hutment Estate just off Lodge Hill, on Rustic Ave. By January 1922 they had moved to 103 Lovell Ave as this is the address shown on Cyril’s baptism record. His baptism was held at St Michael’s Church, East Wickham on the 29th January 1922. Regrettably he died not long after this.
The only information we have of Raymond’s early years is from the newspaper cutting that reported his death. It informs us that he attended Welling Boys Central School and that before joining the army he was employed by a Mr Baker of Central Ave, Welling. This fact is confirmed on the 1939 census which also tells us that the family are living at 15 Leigh Place, Welling. It goes on to inform us that Raymond is a Shop Messenger and the word Butcher is just understandable. His brother Alfred is listed as being a shop assistant at Bakers. It is believed, from another census record found, that a Mr Charles Baker did have a Butchers Shop at 109 Central Ave on the corner with Wickham Street.
Raymond’s military details
From information found on the Surrey Recruitment Register, Raymond enlisted into the East Surrey Regiment on the 29th May 1940 and would have been aged 17 years and 3 months old. He transferred to The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) on the 11th May 1942. It is not known what battalion he was assigned to on joining the Surrey’s but it is possible he went into the newly formed 70th (Young Soldiers) battalion that was based in Richmond Park from early 1940 until August 1941. It was then transferred to Canterbury, a facility shared with the The Buffs.
As stated above Raymond transferred to the 2nd Battalion of The Buffs, in May 1942 and was sent to Eygpt in the July. He could have been involved in the 1st Battle at El Alamaein (1st – 27th July) but the 2nd were involved in the battle of Alam El Halfa at the beginning of September. The account of the battle is as follows taken from the British Empire website on The Buffs
“At the beginning of September 1942 Rommel’s Panzers were rebuffed after coming round the left flank of the 2nd New Zealand Division. The 132nd Infantry Brigade, attached to the Division contained the 2nd Buffs and they attacked southwards, on the night of the 3rd September, to cut off the German’s escape. The Buffs were on the left and reached their objective but came under fired from either side. They consolidated on an exposed rocky feature and survived there until they were withdrawn the following night. They had suffered 108 casualties but the West Kent battalions fared much worse, with the loss of 600 men.”…
It is not known how or exactly where Raymond was mortally wounded as there were many minor encounters with the Germans at this time as this a very volatile area at this time. He was originally reported as being wounded on the 30th September but a further report states that he died of his wounds on the same day.
He was first laid to rest in the area where he died however he was reburied on the 27th August 1943 in the El Alamein Cemetery (XX1X – A – 18). The wording on his gravestone is as follows:
‘ALWAYS A GRIEVIOUS HEARTACHE OFTEN A SILENT TEAR A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY OF ONE WE LOVED SO MUCH’.
The El Alamein War Cemetery contains the graves of men who died at all stages of the Western Desert Campaigns brought in from a wide area but especially those who died in the Battle of El Alamein at the end of October 1942. Raymond is not only remembered by the East Wickham and Welling War Memorial Trust but also by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Furthermore there is a Memorial Book for all The Buffs who bravely lost their lives in the 2nd World War. This is housed in the Warrior Chapel inside Canterbury Cathedral.
—————————————————————
Further family information:
Alfred Charles Hodges Snr. He married Isabella Edgar in the summer of 1910 in Londonderry. The 1911 census shows us that he is in the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Hampshire Regiment and holds the rank of Lance Corporal. At some stage he transfers to the Royal Berkshire with the rank of Sergeant, and then later transfers to the Royal Engineers. He had a full and active time in the army during the First World War and was discharged in March 1919. The 1939 census shows that he worked at the Royal Arsenal as an Examiner.
He died in January 1942 and is buried in Bexleyheath Cemetery.
Isabelle Edgar. In 1911, as her husband is in the army, she is found living with her mother Margaret, sister Fanny and sister-in-law Mary at 24 Orchard Row, Londonderry. In 1928 she signed a petition opposing Home Rule for Northern Ireland. Following the death of her husband she did at some stage move to 46 Lovell Ave which is her last known address.
She died in Farnborough Hospital at the beginning of 1946 and was buried at Bexleyheath Cemetery on the 8th March 1942.
Pictured are Central Avenue as the Hodges would have recognized it, a map of the El Alamein campaign, The El Alamein War Cemetery and Raymond’s headstone and burial record, the Buffs Memorial Book, and another photograph of our young Raymond.
………………………………………………………………………
If anyone is able to add any extra information, provide more family details, or suggest any corrections, please let us know – also, if anyone has any more photos of this individual listed on our memorials, please get in touch. Thank you.
Commemorated
- St. Michael’s East Wickham Church Memorial Tablet
- Welling War Memorial
- El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Raymond Hodges, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.