More about David Hodge

David has no known grave but is remembered on the Helles Memorial. He was the brother of Cpl John Hodge, 103, 4th Battalion Canadian Engineers and Cpl Sidney Hodge M.M. 799109, 4th Battalion Canadian Infantry.

Born in St Andrews on 1 November 1878, he was a resident of Downfield, Dundee, where he had been employed as a police constable. Hodge was listed as missing on 4 June, but his body was recovered and buried by members of the 1/6th Highland Light Infantry on 18 September 1915. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey, Panels 1-2.

DOWNFIELD STOKER DIES FROM WOUNDS. Intimation has been received that Stoker David Hodge, Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division, has died from wounds. Information was received that Stoker Hodge was missing, but his father, Mr J. Hodge, King’s Cross Cottages, Downfield, has received word that he died in hospital at Alexandria from wounds received in action at the Dardanelles. Other two brothers are in the fighting line in France. The Courier, Saturday, 11 December 1915, 4.

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David Hodge was born in St Andrew and was the son of Mr James and Mrs Elizabeth Yule Hodge of King’s Cross Cottages, Downfield, Dundee. He joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in 1905 on a Special Service Engagement of five years service and seven years in the Fleet Reserve and listed his previous occupation as a Constable. During his sea time he served in HM Ships Terrible, Astrea, Charybdis and Lord Nelson. He was recalled in August 1914, Service Number RFR/B/6718, and reported to the Chatham Naval Barracks in Kent. From here he was drafted to the Howe Battalion of the Royal Naval Division. The RND and the Howe Battalion was sent to support the Belgians defending Antwerp in early October 1914 but was withdrawn after two days because they were about to be encircled by German troops. Despite losing over 2,500 men, mostly Prisoners of War or Internees in neutral Holland the bulk of the RND made it back to Britain vis Ostende. The Howe Battalion reformed back in England and soon moved to train at Blandford Camp in Dorset. Nine Battalions, including the Howe, sailed for the Dardanelles at the end of February 1915 and landed in Gallipoli a few days after the opposed landings on 25 April 1915. They took part in the Second Battle of Krithia on 6 May and again in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June. David Hodge was listed as missing after the second attack but his body was identified and buried by men of the 1/6 Highland Light Infantry in September 1915. His body was not recovered after the war and David Hodge is commemorated on the Helles Memorial on Gallipoli and on the Lochee Old Church Roll of Honour.