Donald Arthur Hodge (deceased)

Donald Hodge was born at East Peckham, Kent on 7th December 1894. Educated at the village school and the Judd School, Tonbridge, he enlisted on 7th September 1914 as one of 'Kitchener's First 100,000'. He fought throughout the Great War. At the battle of the Somme he was a Lance Corporal in the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment attached as Orderly and Runner to Captain Fleming of 55th Brigade with whom he took part in the advance on Montauban on 1th July 1916. He was demobilised in January 1919 and then completed his broken apprenticeship with the Whitefriars Press, Tonbridge. He joined in management with Messrs Weatherby in 1924. During the Second World War, he was first an Air Raid Warden in Ealing and served throughout the London Blitz. He then joined the Home Guard (Middlesex Regiment). In 1942 he joned the 157th Battery of the 53rd (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery and served as a gunner in the battery position in Gunnersby Park in west London until injured in action. He had to be discharged on medical grounds in 1943. He retired from business in August 1949 due to ill health. Our sources say that he was alive in early 1996 approaching his 102nd birthday - we have no further information.

Items Signed by Donald Arthur Hodge (deceased)

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Donald Arthur Hodge (deceased)