William James Hodge was born on 23rd November 1896 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. The oldest of seven children, six of whom were boys, his parents were James and Edith Hodge. James was a carpenter and labourer and, when he finished his schooling, William initially found work as a grocer’s errand boy.

William went on to find work as a plumber’s mate and, when war was declared, he saw an opportunity to put his stills to good use. The Royal Navy offered career prospects and, on 14th December 1915, he enlisted. His service papers show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall, with black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.

Initial training took place not far from home at the Portsmouth shore based HMS Victory and HMS Fisgard. In November 1916, however, Plumber’s Mate Hodge was given his first sea-faring assignment, on board the battleship HMS Zealandia. She would remain his home for the next six months.

In the spring of 1917, William came down with tuberculosis. He was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, Kent, but the condition would prove too severe. He passed away on 19th April 1917, aged just 20 years old.

The body of William James Hodge was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.

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