Major-General Sir Henry West Hodgson KCMG CB CVO


Henry West Hodgson was born 29 June 1868 the second son of Barnard Beckett Hodgson and Mabel Gertrude. Henry joined the 15th (The King's) Hussars in 1889. He was promoted captain in 1895 and became their adjutant on 17 Dec 1893. His was next promoted to major on 29 Nov 1899, and later became the commanding officer in 1907, during which he was appointed to the Royal Victorian Order on 5 Nov 1910. Following his service as commanding officer Hodgson was put on the half-pay list on 10 Oct 1911.

By the First World War he was a in command of the Eastern Mounted Brigade and went with them to serve in the Gallipoli Campaign. Because of heavy losses it was amalgamated into the 3rd Dismounted Brigade on 22 Feb 1916 along with the remnants of the South Eastern Mounted Brigade. This new brigade was still commanded by Hodgson. Following the Allied withdrawal he went to Egypt and fought with the Western Frontier Force in the Senussi Campaign. In Feb 1917 he was given his first divisional command, the Imperial Mounted Division, later renamed the Australian Mounted Division. His immediate commander General Harry Chauvel said of him "his masterpiece was probably his skilful withdrawal of his own division and attached brigades from Es Salt during the second Trans-Jordan raid, when, owing to the defection of certain of our Arab allies and a determined counter-attack by the enemy, he was surrounded on three sides, and his line of retreat almost cut off in extremely difficult country. His coolness and determination on that occasion, coupled with the bravery of his troops, saved Australia very serious losses, and earned him the complete confidence of his troops".

Hodgson was promoted to substantive major general on 1 Jan 1919. For his service in the Middle East he was awarded the Order of the Nile (Second Class) in Nov 1919, by the Sultan of Egypt and the Military Order of Savoy by Italy. He became Colonel of the 14th King's Hussars on 4 June 1920 overseeing the amalgamation with the 20th Hussars when they became the 14th/20th King's Hussars in 1922. His last command was the 44th (Home Counties) Division before retiring from the army in 1927. Henry West Hodgson died in London 5 February 1930 and was buried at the St Mary Magdalene Church, Bolney, Sussex.


Regimental Details | 14th Hussars Colonels


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