Hodgett, David Alexander Hynds (David)
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain
No. EC/477, 2nd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles
Killed in action on Thursday 29 January 1942 (aged 29)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Singapore Memorial, Singapore (Column 307)
Bangor and District War Memorial
Ballymena Academy Memorial Plaque
BIOGRAPHY
David Alexander Hynds (sometimes Hynes) Hodgett was born at 37 St. Peter’s Road, Phibsborough, Dublin on 12 September 1913 and he was the elder son of the Revd Richard Hodgett and Mary Elizabeth Hodgett (nee Kerr) who were married on 6 August 1912 in Derrylee Methodist Church, Tartaraghan, County Armagh. Richard Hodgett (aged 28), a Baptist Minister from Cronkill, Tartaraghan was a son of Edward Hodgett, a sanitary inspector (deceased). Mary Elizabeth Kerr (aged 28) from Cronkill was a daughter of Thomas Kerr, a schoolteacher (deceased).
The Revd Richard Hodgett and Mary Elizabeth Hodgett (nee Kerr) had at least five children:
David Alexander Hynds (born 12 September 1913 at 37 St. Peter’s Road, Phibsborough, Dublin)
Mary Leslie (born 28 December 1914 at 3 Springburn Crescent, Springfield Road, Belfast)
Florence Maud (born 1 April 1916 at 443 Springfield Road, Belfast)
Marienne Elizabeth (born 7 September 1918 at 443 Springfield Road, Belfast)
Richard
After ministering in Belfast, the Revd Richard Hodgett was Baptist Minister in Ballymena and he died on 26 September 1927 (aged 43). Mrs Mary Elizabeth Hodgett lived at 16 Ashley Gardens, Bangor.
David Alexander Hynds Hodgett was educated at Ballymena Academy, the Irish Baptist College and Trinity College, Dublin. He volunteered in October 1939 and served with the Royal Ulster Rifles. He obtained his commission and was posted to India in August 1940 where he was attached to the Gurkha Rifles.
Captain David Alexander Hynds Hodgett (No. EC/477) was killed in action in Malaya on 29 January 1942. His sister, Mary Leslie Hodgett, was the welfare officer in a local aircraft factory and, on 17 June 1944, she and William Carlyle Rea were married in Bangor Baptist Church.
His youngest sister, Marienne Elizabeth Hodgett, and Captain Ernest Edward Harrington RIASC were married on 23 March 1946 in Ballyholme Methodist Church, Bangor; her brother, Signalman Richard Hodgett, was groomsman.
Captain David Alexander Hynds Hodgett (No. EC/477) was 29 when he died, and he has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial; on Bangor and District War Memorial, and on Ballymena Academy Second World War Memorial Plaque.