99th Squadron, Royal Air Force (British Air Force)
Date Of Birth:
16/07/1898
Died:
24/04/1918 (Died of Illness)
Age:
19
Summary
Wilfred Hodge was a son of William Robert and Margaret Hodge. Wilfred was born on 16th July 1898 in Tyrone. The 1911 census records Wilfred as a 12 year old schoolboy. The family lived at Cabragh, Clananeese, Tyrone. Wilfred attended Dungannon Royal and was Captain of the school rugby team. He also played for Ulster in 1917-1918. His father was a farmer and merchant. Second Lieutenant Wilfred Hodge was with the 99th Squadron of the Royal Air Force when he died from gastric ulcers in Eastern Hospital, Cambridge on 24 April 1918.
Further Information
Wilfred Hodge was a son of William Robert and Margaret Hodge. William Hodge married Margaret Campbell on 1st March 1892 in the district of Dungannon.
Wilfred was born on 16th July 1898 in Tyrone. He was one of six children.
The 1901 census records Wilfred as age 2 living with the family at Cabragh, Clonaneese, Tyrone. His father was a farmer and his mother was a shop keeper.
Family: William Robert Hodge, Margaret Hodge, Robert John Hodge (born 11th March 1893), Jane Hodge (born 10th August 1894), Elizabeth Hodge (born 23rd June 1896), Wilfred Hodge (born 16th July 1898), Margaret Hodge (born 21st July 1900), Edward George Hodge (born 29th January 1902).
The 1911 census records Wilfred as a 12 year old schoolboy. The family was still living at Cabragh, Clonaneese, Tyrone. His father was a farmer and merchant..
Wilfred attended Dungannon Royal School and was captain of the school rugby team. He also played for Ulster in 1917-1918.
Wilfred Hodge had volunteered from the school and obtaining a commission in the R.F.C. was qualified to go abroad but had been retained to act as an instructor in England
Second Lieutenant Wilfred Hodge was with the 99th Squadron of the Royal Air Force when he died from gastric ulcers in Eastern Hospital, Cambridge on 24th April 1918.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 26th April 1918: Dungannon Airman’s Death
Second Lieutenant Wilfred Hodge, Royal Flying Corps, who died in Cambridge Hospital on Wednesday following an operation, was the second son of the late Mr R Hodge, Cabragh, Dungannon. He was educated at Dungannon Royal School, where he captained the school Rugby club.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 27th April 1918:
Second Lieutenant Wilfred Hodge, Royal Flying Corps, who died in Cambridge Hospital on Wednesday following an operation for gastric ulcer, was the second son of the late Mr R Hodge, Cabragh, Dungannon. He was educated at Dungannon Royal School, where he captained the school rugby club, and represented it last year on the Ulster Schools Rugby Team. He volunteered from school and, obtaining a commission in the R.F.C., was qualified to go abroad, but was retained to act as an instructor in England.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 2 May 1918:
Second Lieutenant Wilfred Hodge, Royal Flying Corps, who died in Cambridge Hospital on Wednesday following an operation for gastric ulcer, was the second son of the late Mr R Hodge, Calragh, Dungannon. He had been educated at Royal School Dungannon where he captained the School Rugby club and had represented it last year on the Ulster Schools Rugby Team. He had volunteered from the school and obtaining a commission in the R.F.C. was qualified to go abroad but had been retained to act as an instructor in England
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 16 May 1918:
Second Lieutenant Wilfred Hodge – Royal Flying Corps, second son of the late Mr William R Hodge, Cabra, Dungannon, who died in Cambridge hospital following an operation.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated 15th August 1918: Royal Sympathy
Mrs Hodge, Cabra House, Donaghmore, has received the following letter from the Keeper of the Privy Purse:-
'I am commanded by the King and Queen to express their sincere sympathy with you at the loss you have sustained by the death of your son Second Lieutenant W Hodge, who, Their Majesties regret top hear has succumbed to the illness contracted whilst in the service of his country.'
Wilfred Hodge’s remains were brought back to Dungannon and he was buried in the north-east part of St. Paul's Church of Ireland Churchyard, Killeeshil, County Tyrone.
Second Lieutenant Wilfred Hodge is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon.
