Hodges, Alfred John

73 Lance Corporal Alfred John Hodges - 16th Battalion AIF

Alfred John Hodges was born on the 18th June 1893 to Frederick and Sarah Hodges. He was one of eleven siblings born into the family.

The family lived at 107 Hope Street White Gum Valley (now 65 Hope) and after leaving school Alfred took up employment as a Grocer.

On the 9th September 1914 Alfred offered his services to the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for service and the medical examiner recorded Alfreds physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/4 inches;

Weight - 146lbs;

Chest Measurement - 37-39 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Alfred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 16th Battalion AIF.

As the 16^th Battalion also had a few companies made up of South Australians it was decided that the battalion would join together in Melbourne along with the other battalions of the 4^th Brigade. So after initial training in WA the 16^th Battalion embarked for Melbourne, where they trained at Broadmeadows Camp for a few more weeks. The 16^th embarked from Melbourne aboard the H.M.A.T. “Ceramic”.

After their arrival in Egypt in late January 1915, the 16^th Battalion were disembarked and the 4^th Brigade found they were to join up with two New Zealand Brigades to form the Australian and New Zealand Division. They trained in Egypt until April 1915 when they departed Alexandria Egypt bound for Lemnos Island. Once they arrived at Lemnos, off the coast of Turkey, they found many troopships containing other Australian, New Zealand, British, Indian and French troops. While the 1^st Australian Division would make the initial landing the NZ & A Division would land later to reinforce.

On April 25^th 1915 the men of the 1^st Division landed and made their way inland. As the day progressed the Turkish resistance stiffened and there was danger of a Turkish breakthrough. About 5pm on April 25^th, the 16^th Battalion landed and were sent up to a crucial piece of ground which was later to be known as Pope’s Hill, named for the 16^th Battalion CO. In the dark there was much confusion but the 16^th managed to establish a line against the Turks and for the next week held this position despite large casualties.

The records are sparse on detail but it appears that Alfred was wounded early in the action as he was back in hospital in Alexandria Egypt on the 1st May 1915. He had been hit in the hand by a Turkish bullet.

On the 16th May 1915 Alfred was shipped to England and was admitted to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester. He remained here for several months undergoing treatment.

On the 7th November 1915 Alfred was put on the hospital ship Runic at Portland England and was invalided back to Australia, arriving in Fremantle on the 21st December 1915.

After being disembarked Alfred was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for his medical check. Alfred was discharged from the AIF on the 24th May 1916.

On his return in 1916 he was living Livingstone Street Beaconsfield but in 1917 was at 3 John Street Fremantle and was working as a Draper.

Alfred enlisted again in January 1917, his hand having sufficiently recovered for him to be accepted for enlistment. He was initially assigned to the Australian Army Medical Corps reinforcements but in February 1917 was transferred to the Artillery Reinforcements. He was sent to Victoria to complete his training as the main Artillery camp in Australia was at Maribyrnong. 

Through 1917 Alfred trained with the Artillery Reinforcements and a few times was assigned to an actual reinforcement group but ill health and injuries continually saw him pulled out of these groups and hospitalised. It wasn't all negative news for Alfred as in 1917 he married Myrtle Cox in Collingwood.

Due to the constant illness and injury Alfred was discharged in Melbourne on the 16th February 1918.

He continued to live in Victoria and by 1919 was living at Glenferrie. They then moved to Queensland before returning to WA in 1930's and was then living in the suburb of Victoria Park.

Alferd and Myrtle divorced in 1939 and he was living in Claremont and was working as a van salesman. 

Alfred soon re-married to Doris Anderson in Perth.

In 1949 they lived in Joondanna, before moving to Mt Hawthorn, Osborne Park and Morley through the 1950's and 60's.

Alfred Hodges died at Hollywood Hospital on the 28th August 1964. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.