HODGKISS, Philip

Philip Hodgkiss enlisted in the Worcesters, probably in 1916, and was sent to the 3rd Battalion. In that year they were engaged on the Somme and in July 1917 they joined the huge force being gathered behind Ypres for the long struggle in the salient. They were not involved on the first day but went into the front line for the next phase, the attack on the village of Westhoek on the Menin Road. They attacked at 4.25 a.m. on the 10th August and took both the village and the important ridge. On the next day they had to face the German counter attack on the ridge. The casualties were very high and among the 116 Worcesters killed in action was Private Philip Hodgkiss. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.