The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Lance Corporal L Hodgkin


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Lance Corporal Lewis HODGKIN, L/9863, 2nd  Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died of dysentery, whilst a Prisoner of War, at Yarbachi, Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, 24th August 1916, age 26.

Born Lenham, Maidstone, Kent, son of the George & Mary Ann Hodgkin, of Corks Court, Sandway, Maidstone, Kent.


1911 Census - Corks Court, Sandway, Maidstone, Kent - George Hodgkin, head, age 61, widower, waggoner on farm, worker, born Aldington, Kent; Lewis Hodgkin, son, age 21, single, farm labourer, born Lenham, Kent; Kate Hodgkin, daughter, age 18, single, born Lenham, Kent.


Formerly served in 3rd Battalion,  Royal West Kent Regiment, Special Reserve, 12th October 1911 to 21st March 1912. Service No.8411. 7th December 1911, 3rd Class Certificate of Education.


Enlisted Maidstone, Kent, age 20 years & 7 months, height 5ft 2 inches, weight 133lbs, fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, perpendicular scar1" above inner end right eyebrow.  Resided Sandway, Kent. Formerly farm labourer.

Home, 22nd March 1912 to 21st October 1913; India, 22nd October 1913 to 31st January 1915; Indian Expeditionary Force, 1st February 1915 to 24th August 1916.

22nd March 1912, enlisted; 24th March 1912, Dublin, joined Battalion; 29th June 1912, 2nd Class Certificate of Education; 22nd October 1913, posted India & 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 27th January 1914 to 3rd February 1914, Multan Hospital, inflamed connective tissue, badly fitting right boot, abscess instep; 17th September 1915, Nasireyah, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal; 29th April 1916, Kut-al-Amara, presumed Prisoner of War.

22nd June 1917 War Office letter concerning the report of Company Sergeant Major Chrisford, 6529, 2nd  Battalion,  Royal West Kent Regiment, Prisoner of War, Ismid, of the death of certain Prisoners of War of the same Battalion, in the cases of 8873, Sergeant H Barnard, and 9863, Lance Corporal L Hodgkins, a further report has been received from the Ottoman Red Crescent Society to the effect that Sergeant H Barnard, died on 29th July 1916, at Yarbachi of pneumonia and Lance Corporal L Hodgkins on 24th August 1916, at Yarbachi of dysentery.

6th June 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, George Hodgkin, Corks Court, Sandway; Brothers - none; Sisters - E Coveney, age 43, 14 Market Street, Maidstone; Maria A Wilson, age 41, Stream Farm, Sandway; K Hodgkin, age 26, Corks Court, Sandway.

30th August 1921, Memo from British Army HQ, D.A.A.G., Constantinople - The enclosed Identity Disc of No.9863 Cpl HODGKIN Lewis, 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, has been received from the Turkish Military Authorities with the following particulars - Age 26, Captured at Kut-al-Amara 29th April 1916. Died of dysentery, 24th August 1916. Buried at Hospital Cemetery, Yarbachi, Grave No.93.

Buried at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, XXI. S. 28., Iraq.

External Link - Lenham War Memorial


George Hodgkin, brother, Able Seaman, Service No. 8283, died 14th October 1914, age 27, whilst serving with Royal Australian Navy, H.M.A. S/M. "AE1" on loan from Royal Navy (RN/226508), served on HMS Thames. Drowned in accidental loss of vessel near New Guinea. Commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial


This page was last updated on 16-Dec-2019.

Copyright   © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason