Hodgson, Ronald
Aircraftman Second Class
No. 1495177, 153 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Killed as a result of an accident on Monday 11 May 1942 (aged 19)
Buried:
Huddersfield (Edgerton) Cemetery, Yorkshire, England (Section 7.G Grave 73)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
Ronald Hodgson was born on 17 November 1922 and he was a son of Arthur and Hilda L. Hodgson (nee Groom) of Springfield Place, Luck Lane, Marsh, Huddersfield in Yorkshire. Their marriage was registered in the fourth quarter of 1916 in Salford, Lancashire.
Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War Ronald Hodgson worked in a greengrocer’s shop. Aged 18, he enlisted on 5 May 1941 and served with 153 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. A year later, on 11 May 1942, he was accidentally killed while 153 Squadron was based at RAF Ballyhalbert in County Down. His death was reported in the 23 May 1942 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle under the headline Airman’s Tragic End, Crushed Under Tractor. An inquest was held on 13 May 1942 under the Coroner, Dr R. A. Mc. Wallace, and Aircraftman Second Class (AC2) Leslie Seale gave evidence.
AC2 Seale said that he had been dragging two large chocks across the grass to place in position at an aircraft when AC2 Ronald Hodgson, who was driving a tractor, volunteered to tow the chocks. When the job was done AC2 Hodgson executed a sharp right-hand turn and the tractor rolled over pinning him underneath. By the time help arrived and the tractor was righted, AC2 Hodgson was dead. His neck was broken, and fractured ribs had penetrated his lungs.
The Coroner returned a verdict that Aircraftman Second Class Ronald Hodgson (No. 1495177) met his death as a result of multiple injuries caused by his accidentally overturning the tractor which he was driving. He was buried in Huddersfield (Edgerton) Cemetery in Yorkshire and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone (his age is recorded as 18):
IN MEMORY A CONSTANT THOUGHT
IN HEART A SILENT SORROW
SADLY MISSED