218154 Pte. Oliver W. Hodgetts British Army 1st Btn. Worcestershire Regiment (d.4th Jun 1915) Pte. O. W. Hodgettswas executed for cowardice 04/06/1915 and buried in The Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie, France. He served with the Worcestershire Regiment. He was serving with the 1st Battalion when they arrived on the Western Front on the 8th November 1914 fresh from Egypt.
Some 5 days later the Battalion took up a defensive position in trenches facing Neuve Chapelle and came under heavy bombardment from the enemy during which seven men were killed and 25 wounded.
During the next three days (16th to 19th November 1914) a further 13 men were killed and 27 wounded.
During this period Private Hodgetts went missing but on this occasion no action was taken against him.
On the 19th November 1914 the men of the 1st Battalion exhausted climbed out of the trenches frozen and in heavy snow fall made their way back to billets at La Gorgue, six miles away.
Next day one man in four suffered with frost-bitten hands or feet and in many cases feet or toes had to be amputated. On the 9th May 1915 just prior to the attack on Festubert, Hodgetts went missing yet again just as the Battalion prepared to go into action.
On the 12th May Hodgetts reported to a nearby unit and claimed he had sprained his ankle, but when he was examined by the medical officer no injury was discovered. On 22nd May 1915 he was brought to trial where he was undefended.
Hodgetts conduct sheet showed that he had been sentenced to 90 days field punishment on the 1st March 1915.
His commanding officer Major George W. St. G. Grogan at the trial described Hodgetts as a worthless fighting soldier who was only intent on saving his own skin.
At his court martial Private Hodgetts was found guilty of cowardice.
Field Marshal Sir John French confirmed the sentence and Pte. Hodgetts was shot by firing squad on 4th June 1915.
He was only 20 years of age.
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