Samuel Hodgkinson was born 31.05.1896 in Burslem, Staffordshire to parents Samuel Hodgkinson born Burslem circa 1871 and Mary Ann Nee Simpson born Burslem 20th January 1875. 

They married at St Johns Church Burslem 22nd December 1895. 

Samuel was the eldest of  6 children  born in Burslem, namely; Mary Ann Hodgkinson  born 9th December 1898; Arthur Hodgkinson born 3 July 1902; Frederick Hodgkinson born 18th December 1904; John Hodgkinson born 1910 and Albert Hodgkinson born 20th June 1912. 

In the Census of 1901 we can see Samuel aged 4 living with both his parents and sister Mary Ann aged 2 at 20 William Street, Burslem. His father was employed as a Potters Placer. 

The Census of 1911 shows Samuel  aged 14 living at 16 Lower Street Burslem  with his parents and siblings  Mary Ann aged 12 , Arthur aged 8, Frederick aged 6 and John aged 1  His father remains a Potters Placer and Samuel himself is employed as a Lithographic Printer. The record also shows insight into the family as parents being married for 15 years and having had 6 live births , 5 Children alive and 1 died. 

On Monday 11th October 1920 the sentinel Newspaper reported the tragic double drowning of two boys,  Edwin Moore aged 9 of 18 Wood Street Burslem and John Hodgkinson aged 10 of 16 Lower Street Burslem, they were attempting to launch a raft on to the pond near the racecourse Pit Hanley. Albert the older brother was with the boys at the time of the accident and had watched John attempting to rescue Edwin but both young boys died at the scene.    

After the war in the 1921 census Samuel and his wife Mary Ann lived at 16 Lower Street Burslem with their grown children Mary Ann aged 22years 6 months,  Arthur 18 years 11 months Frederick 16 years 6 months and young Albert aged 9. All still working in the Potteries. 

Samuel Hodgkinson died July 2nd 1939 aged 68 

In August of 1915 Samuel joined the army with ‘B’ Coy 13th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment as Private 29547 Hodgkinson. (There is unconfirmed information that Samuel initially had joined the Notts Derby Regiment as Private 29750, according to Soldiers who died, but no other supporting evidence is found. Although the 18th Sherwood Foresters were absorbed into the 13th Yorkshires in April 1916 so it is possible)

No information survives that can inform us of Samuel's journey to the front and what actions he may have taken part in prior to events leading to his capture. But we do know from German Prisoner Of War records that he was reported missing between 9th-13th April 1918 having been captured at Armentieres on the 11th April 1918 during the Battle of Lys which began on the 9th April 1918 to 29th April 1918. It was part of the German Operation Michael 3rd Offensive known as Georgette. The battalion war diary gives quite a comprehensive account of the fighting at this time. The battalion were in retreat owing to the strength of the enemy push which started on the 21st March 1918 and had the British reeling and caused them to engage in a fighting retreat. On the 9th April 1918 the battalion had come to a place at Bois Grenier and along with half the 20th Middlesex Regiment formed a line some 300 meters long and it was now on the 11th April that Sir Douglas Haigh issued his famous ‘BACKS TO THE WALL’ order, it was decided they would hold this line at all costs, no more retreat. We are told how the Yorkshires fought with artillery, machine gun, rifle fire, grenade, rifle grenade, trench mortar and beat off successive German attacks. So fierce was the fighting that the battalion was forced to make limited tactical retreats to Touquet Parmentier and Pont D’Acuelles. The Germans forced their way into British positions, were fought off, various counter attacks were made and many men were lost dead, wounded, and captured over this period.

Sadly Samuels death is recorded soon after having died of dysentery on the 2nd July 1918. This is supported by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Soldiers died records and contemporary newspaper reports. 

He is buried in the Terlincthun Cemetery Wimille plot number XME7

Samuel is commemorated on the Royal Doulton war memorial Burslem and the war memorial in the grounds of St Johns Community Church Woodbank Street Burslem.   

here are newspaper reports from the Staffordshire Sentinel that inform us of his capture and death and previous employment with Messrs Doulton and Company. One carries a very good image of Samuel

Samuel was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Original data: England, Marriages, 1538–1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

1901 Census Class: RG13; Piece: 2595; Folio: 126; Page: 32

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911

Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 098/0451/Hod-Hod

Military-Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: British and Irish Military Databases. The Naval and Military Press Ltd.

National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 850001-851500; Reference: 518

https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/791739/698/37609/ 

HODGKINSON, SAMUEL in UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 - Fold3 

Page 19 - UK, Historical Documents Library, 1900-1960 - Fold3 

CWGC

National Archives War Diaries WO95

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19180610/069/0004?noTouch=true 

Staffordshire Sentinel - Monday 10 June 1918

Staffordshire Sentinel - Thursday 27 February 1919 

Staffordshire Sentinel - Wednesday 02 July 1919

Staffordshire Sentinel  20.01.17.