Edward Linton Hodson

Edward Linton was the son of William Withers Hodson and his wife Ellen (née Collins). His father William was born in about 1868, the son of Edwin and Sarah Hodson. The family was living on Alexandra Street, Lincoln, in 1889. William was a fitter and on 4 March 1889 enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Lincoln (23606 Sapper). He was posted to Chatham on 6 March 1889 but then spent two consecutive periods in hospital at Chatham suffering from rheumatism: 21 March-8 April and 9 April-14 May. He was discharged from the Royal Engineers on 25 May 1889 'in consequence of being unlikely to be an efficient soldier' having served for 83 days. His mother Ellen Collins was born in Retford in 1872. William and Ellen were married in 1889 (O/N/D Retford) and had at least five children: Edward Linton b. Retford 1891; John William b. 1892 Morton Lincolnshire; Elizabeth b. Lincoln January 1894 bap. Lincoln St Swithun 28 January 1894; Charles Wright b. Lincoln 13 January 1895 and George b. Lincoln 10 October 1896 bap. (George Healey) Lincoln 20 December 1896. William and Ellen have not yet been traced on the 1891 Census but they were living in Lincolnshire by the time of their second son's birth in 1892. They were still living in Lincolnshire when Wiliam died in 1896 (O/N/D Lincoln). Ellen married secondly James Ryves in 1897 (O/N/D Retford). According to the 1911 Census, Ellen and James had nine children but only six have been traced on the registrations of birth and the census of 1901 and 1911. It is probable that in 1911 they included Ellen's four children, Edward, Elizabeth, Charles and George, who were living with them at the time. James and Ellen's six children were: Fanny b. 1898, Ellen (Nellie) b. 1899, Jane Collins (Jenny) b. 1902, James Richard b. 1909, Kathleen b. 1910 and Ada Gwen b. 1915. In 1901 James (33), a malster, and Ellen (29) were living at 25 West Street, Retford, with Elizabeth (7), Charles (6), George (4), Fanny (2) and Ellen (Nellie) (1). All the children had the surname 'Ryves'. Ellen's eldest son, Edward, was living with his paternal grandparents at Alexandra Terrace, Lincoln, but John has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census. By 1911 the family had moved to 33 West Street, Retford. James was now working as an engine man (stationary). In the home on the night of the census were Ellen's four children, Edward a grocer's drayman, Elizabeth a laundress, Charles a blacksmith's striker, and George, and their five children Fanny, Nellie (Ellen), Jenny (Jane), James and Kathleen (6m). All the children had the surname 'Ryves'. Ellen's eldest son, John, had joined the Lincolnshire Regiment, as his brother Edward was to do later that year, and was serving overseas with the Lincolnshire Regiment. Ada Gwen was born four years later in 1915. William and Ellen were still living at 33 West Street in March 1919 when Ellen completed Army Form 5080 listing her son Edward's surviving blood relatives. She named Edward's stepfather, James Ryves, and also: Mother: Ellen Ryves, 33 West Street Retford Brothers full blood: Charles Hodson (24) and George Hodson (21); 33 West Street Retford Brother half-blood: James (9), 33 West Street Sister full blood: Elizabeth Noble, 33 West Street Retford Sisters half-blood: (Ryves) Fanny (20), Nellie (18), Jenny (17), Kathleen (8) and Ada Gwen (4); West Street Retford His mother Ellen died in 1939. Two of his three brothers also served in the war. John William served in the Lincolnshire Regiment (8561 Private) and was killed in France on 10 March 1915, the day after Edward's death. John has no known grave and, like Edward, is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Charles joined the Royal Navy on a 12 year engagement as a Stoker 2nd Class on 2 March 1914. He gave his occupation as railway stoker. He was discharged shore (free disharge) on 20 September 1920 and transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve the following day. He was demobilsed in June 1921. Charles married Ethel Batty (b. 24 July 1895) in 1919 and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living in Leeds where he was a police constable. Charles died in 1967. There is a record of a George H Hodson serving in the Royal Field Artillery (196944 Driver) and this might be their brother, George Healey (b. 1896). George married Emily E Pratt (b. 19 March 1898) in 1918 and in 1939 they were living in Retford; George was working in the textile trade. He died on 6 March 1968. Their sister Elizabeth married George W Noble (b. 17 June 1887) in 1913. In 1939 Elizabeth and George, a general labourer, were living in Retford with their children George Edwin (b. 15 December 1914) and Ethel (b. 12 December 1920). Elizabeth died in 1971.