Thomas Hodgson was born in London England in 1883 to Thomas and Maria Hodgson. He was educated and grew up in London.
After leaving school Tom joined the British Army and was assigned to the 2nd Coldstream Guards where he was utilised as a Drummer. However after he turned 18 he was released from service dur to defective vision. He then took up general work as a labourer.
Thomas arrived in Fremantle in 1911 and took up residence in the Port City. He sourced work locally.
Tom married Clara Hendrick in Fremantle in 1914 and they took up residence at 10 Essex Street. (Later renamed 22-24 Essex Street). They would have a son called Thomas.
On the 15th January 1916 Tom enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 127lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;
Complexion -Fresh;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Fair.
After his successful enlistment Tom was sent to Claremont Showgrounds Camp and was assigned to "C" Company of the 44th Battalion AIF. This newly forming unit would train around Claremont, Fremantle and Osborne (present day Swanbourne) for the next few months.
Tom trained with the 44th Battalion for the next few months in WA while they waited for the departure orders to arrive. These finally came though and on the 6th June 1916 the 44th Battalion boarded the transport ship HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour. The journey to England took just over six weeks and the ship arrived at Plymouth Harbour on the 21st July 1916.
After being disembarked the 44th Battalion were sent to the 3rd Division Training area on the Salisbury Plains. Tom commenced with training but a call soon came for reinforcements to help fill the gaps in units already in France. Tom volunteered to be sent across to France and would be joining the 28th battalion AIF.
Tom arrived in France on the 16th October 1916 and was officially taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 30th October 1916. Tom joined the 28th battalion on the Somme battlefield and a few days after joining them, Tom participated in an attack on the German trenches.
On the 3rd November 1916 Tom was hit by shrapnel in his arm and after treatment at the Field Ambulance, he was sent to the Casualty Clearing Station for further attention. Tom was then admitted to the 6th general Hospital at Rouen.
Tom would only have a few days in this French town and he was then sent across to England aboard the Hospital Ship which was called Western Australia. After arriving in England Tom was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital. On the 24th November he was then transferred to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Southall.
Tom would stay at Southall for several weeks. On the 13th January 1917 he was given a two week furlough, during which time he was able to visit family and friends.
On the 27th January 1917 Tom reported to No.2 Command Depot Camp in Weymouth. Due to the damage to his arm, Tom's war was now over and he would be sent back to Australia. On the 17th March 1917 Tom boarded the Hospital transport Ship Beltana and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 5th May 1917.
Tom was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for further medical treatment and was discharged from the AIF on the 12th June 1917.
After his return from the war, Tom moved to 25 Suffolk Street (later renumbered to 21 Suffolk) and was still working as a Labourer. Tom lived there till the early 1940's when he moved to 14 South Terrace before returning to Suffolk Street.
Tom Hodgdon died in Fremantle on the 25th May 1952 aged 71. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.
