HODGETTS, Arthur

Arthur Hodgetts was the son of Thomas and Catherine Hodgetts of Waxland Road, Halesowen, and was educated at Halesowen Grammar School and Hanley Castle grammar school, Worcs. In 1914 he was a clerk at Dudley Post Office and by 1915 he was in the 31st Division Signalling Company. The Division was on the Somme for the Battle of Albert on the 1st July 1916 and was moved in 1917 to the Arras sector for the battles in April and May for the Hindenburg Line. Maintaining telephone lines to the trenches in the front line was dangerous and casualties were frequently sustained. Sapper Arthur Hodgetts was killed in action on the 6th June 1917 and is buried at Roclincourt Military Cemetery (I C 20). He was 30 years of age and is also commemorated on the Halesowen, Christ Church, Quinton, The Earls School and Dudley Post Offices Memorials.