W. N. Hodgson

William Noel Hodgson MC (3 January 1893 – 1 July 1916) was an English poet of the First World War. During the war, he published stories and poems under the pen name Edward Melbourne.

W. N. Hodgson

MC
Hodgson in uniform c. 1915
Born
William Noel Hodgson

(1893-01-03)3 January 1893
Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England
Died1 July 1916(1916-07-01) (aged 23)
near Mametz, Somme, France
Resting placeDevonshire Cemetery, Picardy, France
NationalityBritish
EducationDurham School
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
OccupationSoldier and poet
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1914–1916
RankLieutenant
UnitDevonshire Regiment
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsMentioned in Despatches
Military Cross

Early life and education

Hodgson was the fourth and youngest child of Henry Bernard Hodgson, the first Bishop of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich. He was born at Thornbury, near Bristol, but the family soon moved to Berwick-upon-Tweed. He entered into The School House of Durham School in September 1905 on a King's Scholarship. He steered in the second crew in 1907; was in the XI, 1910, 1911; and in the XV, 1910. He won the Steeplechase in 1909 and 1911. He left Durham in July 1911, with Gallipoli war poet and friend Nowell Oxland, for Oxford University where he was an exhibitioner of Christ Church. He took a first in Classical Moderations in March 1913 and decided to stay and do Greats.[1]

First World War

Known as "Smiler" to his friends, he volunteered for the British Army on the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and served in the 9th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. For the first year of the War he was training in England, before landing at Le Havre on 28 July 1915 and being sent to trenches near Festubert. His first major offensive came on 25 September during the Battle of Loos. He was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross for holding a captured trench for 36 hours without reinforcements or supplies during the battle and he was subsequently promoted to lieutenant.

Having returned to England after the Battle of Loos, he was positioned with his Battalion in the front line trenches at Fricourt in February 1916, before moving a kilometre or so to the trenches opposite the town of Mametz in April. The trench was named Mansell Copse, as it was in a group of trees. He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme when attacking German trenches near Mametz.[2] He was bombing officer for his battalion during the attack, and was killed by a machine gun positioned at a shrine whilst taking grenades to the men in the newly captured trenches. The bullet went through his neck, killing him instantly. His servant was found next to him after the offensive had ended. He is buried in Grave 3, Row 'A' at Devonshire Cemetery in Mansell Copse.[3][4]

Writings

Although he had been writing poetry since at least 1913, he started publishing stories and poems in periodicals at the beginning of 1916, under the pen name Edward Melbourne.[5]

Hodgson's posthumous volume Verse and Prose in Peace and War, published in London by Murray in 1917, ran into three editions. He is probably best remembered today for his poem 'Before Action', which was published two days before he died. It is a commonly held belief that the poem was written with the premonition of his death, from his knowledge of the German machine gun positions; the last line is "Help me to die, O Lord".

"Before Action"

By all the glories of the day
And the cool evening's benison
By that last sunset touch that lay
Upon the hills when day was done,
By beauty lavishly outpoured
And blessings carelessly received,
By all the days that I have lived
Make me a soldier, Lord.

By all of all man's hopes and fears
And all the wonders poets sing,
The laughter of unclouded years,
And every sad and lovely thing;
By the romantic ages stored
With high endeavour that was his,
By all his mad catastrophes
Make me a man, O Lord.

I, that on my familiar hill
Saw with uncomprehending eyes
A hundred of thy sunsets spill
Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,
Ere the sun swings his noonday sword
Must say good-bye to all of this; –
By all delights that I shall miss,
Help me to die, O Lord.

Written on 30 June 1916, just two days before his death.

Books about W. N. Hodgson

Before Action: William Noel Hodgson and the 9th Devons – A Story of the Great War – http://www.w-n-hodgson.info/

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References
  1. Catriona Haig, "Hodgson, William Noel (1893–1916)", ODNB, Oxford University Press, 2004 retrieved 15 Nov 2014. Pay-walled.
  2. Bennett, William J. The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood. Thomas Nelson. p. 35. ISBN 1595555404. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  3. ODNB entry.
  4. CWGC: W.N.Hodgson
  5. "The Overshadowed and The Surprising". Harold B. Lee Library at the Brigham Young University. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
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