The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Hodgson
- First Name:
- Leonard Sydney
- Nick Name:
- Tim
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX9231
- Classification:
- Rangetaker
- Company:
- 'A' Company, No. 6 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 30.10.1940
- DOB:
- 20.08.1919
- Place of Birth:
- London, England
- Father's Name:
- John Henry Hodgson
- Mothers's Name:
- Minna Bertha Hodgson
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Dairy Farmer
- Memorial:
- Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A8, Row D, Grave 13, Age 24.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
- 'A' Force Burma Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
- Camps Burma:
- Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw 14km, Meiloe 75km, Aungganaung 105km
- POW#:
- 2902
- Cause of Death:
- Post Leg Amputation and Toxaemia
- Place of Death:
- Khonkan 55km Camp
- Date of Death:
- 24.09.1943
- Buried:
- Grave No. 13 Khonkan
General Description
Tim Hodgson was wounded in action at Buona Vista on 15.2.1942, the last day of fighting when General Percival had withdrawn all the troops to a perimeter line around Singapore City. A number of 2/4th were killed and a larger number injured. He was admitted to 2/13th Australian General Hospital with a gunshot wound to his back. Discharged to unit on 20.2.1942.
He left Singapore 1942 with ‘A’ Coy Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma Thai Railway – Burma end.
Please read further.
Evacuated to Khonkan 55km Hospital Camp on 4.7.1943. His left leg was amputated below the knee as a result of tropical ulcers. The leg was re-amputated above the knee. In his very weakened state of general health, Tim was unable to recover. He was buried in cemetery at Khonkan.
Please read about Khonkan Hospital Camp
Below: After the end of war Tim’s body was exhumed and reburied at the Thabyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanmar (previously known as Burma).
Tim’s father John Henry Hodgson b. 28 May 1885 married in Hamburg, Germany aged 21 years on 24 Oct 1906 to 18 year old Minna Caroline Bertha Conrad b. 5 Apr 1888. Minna was daughter of Karl Freidrich Conrad and Anna Bertha Frese, Hamburg.
John Hodgson’s parents were Thomas Edward Hodgson and Jane Bolton.
The couple initially lived in England where their two older sons were born. Thomas John Hodgson was born in 1908
‘Tim’ Hodgson’s parents and 2 older brothers were in Germany at the outbreak of WW1. His German born mother and brothers managed to leave and return to England. His father John Henry Hodgson was imprisoned in a civilian camp near Berlin throughout the war.
Read the story of Pte. Tim Hodgson WX9231
His father John Hodgson was imprisoned at Ruhleben POW Camp near Berlin throughout the war.
Please read about Ruhleben POW Camp WW1 (Detailed diary of a fellow POW’s 19 months incarceration)
The Hodgson family migrated to Western Australia and settled in Denmark Group Settlement No. 93. They sailed from London April 1924 on Esperance Bay to Fremantle.
Above: Albany Advertiser November 1940
Tim married Patricia Mary Swain whose family resided in Kalgoorlie.
Tom Minchin WX9222 of 2/4thwho grew up at Denmark with his Group Settlement parents, married Eileen’s sister, Margaret (known as Pearl) Whittem in 1937. Please read
about the men from Youngs Siding, Bornholm, Torbay etc
Minchin returned home after the war.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
- Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
- Khonkan, 55Kilo Hospital 360k - Burma
- Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
- Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
- Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
