Gerald Lord Hodson
Captain (retired) Gerald Lord Hodson, D.S.O.*, R.N. (28 August, 1883 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
The son of Reverend Thomas Hodson was born in Merriott, Somerset. Upon passing out of Britannia on 15 September 1899, he was appointed to Terrible on the China Station. However, in late 1899, he landed in Natal for service ashore. On 14 March 1900, he fell sick and was transferred on orders of the Commander-in-Chief to Forte for transit to England.[1]
Hodson was sent back to Terrible on the China Station on 14 September, 1901, where he remained through 8 October 1902 when he was sent to Revenge, based in Portland.[2]
Hodson was specially promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 December, 1903 for war services in South Africa. On 7 October 1904, he qualified for Navigation duties.
Hodson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 December, 1911 while serving in the second class protected cruiser Fox as navigator in the East Indies. He left her when she paid off on 15 July, 1912. He spent just three weeks in Majestic of the Third Fleet as navigator in October before being placed in Commonwealth of First Fleet. None of these appointments proved protracted, and he also found himself shepherding Swiftsure out to a deployment in March/April 1913 and then brought Highflyer back to England from April to June.[3]
Hodson finally found some stability when he was appointed to the first class protected cruiser Blake of the Second Destroyer Flotilla for navigation duties on 11 June, 1913.[4]
Hodson was appointed in command of the minesweeper Folkestone from 17 March, 1915 to 28 April, 1915.
Appointed in command of the screw minesweeper Whitby Abbey from 28 April, 1915 to 6 December, 1915 when he was appointed to the "special service" vessel Aster, which was being completed. With Aster in service from February, 1916, Hodson was recognized for his role in planning a raid on the coast of Asia Minor on 30 April, 1916. On 1 November, he was granted 14 days leave in England while his ship was undergoing refit. Aster would be lost to a mine on 4 July, 1917.[5]
Hodson was appointed in command of the monitor M.16 on 24 July, 1917.[6] In September 1917, he was subjected to a Court Martial on a charge of having negligently or by default losing H.M.S. Aster. The charge was not proved and he was acquitted.[7]
Post-War
Hodson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1918.
On 27 July, 1920, he was appointed in command of the gunboat Bee.[8]
Retired at his own request upon his relief on 1 February, 1923.
Hodson was promoted to the rank of Captain (retired) on 28 August, 1928.
World War II
In August, 1939, Hodson was sent to Boscawen for three weeks training in minesweeping. On the 27th of the month, he was apointed to Drake, additional, as Port Minesweeping Officer, Western Approaches Command, and for Falmouth and Devonport sub command.[9]
On 6 June 1940, appointed to the staff of the Commander-in-Chief of the Western Approaches as Staff Minesweeping Officer. On 12 October, he was made Captain of Minesweepers for Plymouth, Falmouth and Dartmouth. In 1944, he was made an acting Captain while holding his appointment. He remained active until July 1945 and was reverted to the Retired List in September.[10]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Guy Hamilton |
Captain of H.M. T.B. 42 14 Jul, 1904[11] |
Succeeded by George H. Kelsey |
| Preceded by James F. Dewar |
Captain of H.M.S. Aster 9 Feb, 1916[12] – 4 Jul, 1917[13] |
Succeeded by Vessel Lost |
| Preceded by Barry V. Sturdee |
Captain of H.M.S. M.16 24 Jul, 1917[14] – Apr, 1919 |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Evelyn H. B. L. Scrivener |
Captain of H.M.S. Gnat 7 May, 1919[15] – 11 May, 1920 |
Succeeded by Cosmo B. Hastings |
| Preceded by Cosmo B. Hastings |
Captain of H.M.S. Bee 27 Jul, 1920[16] – 9 Sep, 1921 |
Succeeded by Ralph Eliot |
Footnotes
- ↑ Hodson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/163. f. 567.
- ↑ Hodson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/163. f. 567.
- ↑ Hodson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/163. f. 567.
- ↑ Hodson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/163. f. 567.
- ↑ Hodson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/163. f. 567.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 837.
- ↑ Hodson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/163. f. 567.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 731.
- ↑ Hodson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/163. f. 567.
- ↑ Hodson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/163. f. 567.
- ↑ "Appointments for the Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Jul 09, 1904; pg. 12; Issue 37442.
- ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 391l.
- ↑ Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. p. 95.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 837.
- ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 803.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 731.
