Frederick volunteered in 1914 and was initially in the South Staffordshire Regiment. He saw action on the Western Front over the next four years and fought in many of the major battles and campaigns, including the Somme and Passchendaele. In 1916 he transferred to the East Lancashire Regiment and served in that till the middle of 1918 at which time he transferred to the Tank Corps and was posted to the 19th Regiment, which was never deployed to France. In December 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during an offensive patrol behind enemy lines at Acheville the previous month. Frederick volunteered in August 1914 and must have been recruited in Litchfield. According to The Wartime Memories Project - The Great War (http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/southstaffordshireregiment9-gw.php, the 9th (Service) Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment was raised at Lichfield in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third Army. They undertook training at Aldershot and in December 1914 went into Talavera Barracks. The Battalion was attached to 23rd Division as Army Troops, and became a Pioneer Battalion in December 1914. They moved to Shorncliffe in March 1915 and to Oxney Park, Bordon in May before proceeding to France. They landed at Boulogne on the 24th of August 1915, the division concentrating near Tilques. On the 5th of September 23rd Division became attached to III Corps, moving to the Merris-Vieux Berquin area, for trench familiarisation under the guidance of the 20th (Light) and 27th Divisions. They took over front line sector between Ferme Grande Flamengrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road in their own right on the 14th. During the Battle of Loos CIII and CV Brigades RFA were in action attached to 8th Division. With 23rd Division holding the front at Bois Grenier, they were relieved from that sector at the end of January 1916 and Divisional HQ was established at Blaringhem with the units concentrated around Bruay for a period of rest. On the 3rd of March they returned to the front line, taking over a sector between the Boyau de l'Ersatz and the Souchez River from the French 17th Division, with the Artillery taking over an exposed position between Carency and Bois de Bouvigny where it was subjected to heavy shelling. In early March a Tunnelling Company was established and men with a background in mining were transferred from the ranks to the Royal Engineers. In Mid April they returned to Bruay area for rest until mid May when they again took over the Souchez-Angres front, just before the German Attack on Vimy Ridge on the 21st. The brunt of the attack fell on 47th (London) Division, to the right of 23rd Division and the 23rd Divisional Artillery went into action in support of the 47th. On the 1st of June the Artillery supported 2nd Division as they undertook operations to recover lost ground. On the 11th of June the 23rd Division Infantry moved to Bomy and the artillery to Chamblain Chatelain and Therouanne to begin intensive training for the Battles of the Somme. They were in action in The Battle of Albert including the capture of Contalmaison, The Battles of Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy including the capture of Le Sars. During this period Frederick often fought at close quarters underground in the mines and saps that were built under enemy line. His weapons were knuckle-dusters, a ten inch stiletto and a Webley revolver (which also served with Frederick's son through WW2). In 1916 Frederick was promoted and transferred to the 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment (Accrington Pals)in the wake of the disastrous losses sustained during the Battle of the Somme. Here he became the Company sniper. In November 1917 he crossed enemy lines on an offensive reconnaissance with Pte Townson. They entered an enemy munitions dugout undetected and planted a Mills bomb under some boxes, so when removed the handle would be released and the grenade detonate. This was successful and Frederick was awarded the MC for his actions. Frederick also saw action during the defence of Ayette in March 1918. Here the 11th East Lancs helped to hold the line against an onslaught from the 16th Bavarian Regiment. Basil Horsfall, a fellow Lieutenant, was awarded a Victoria Cross during this action. In the summer of 1918 Frederick was court marshalled and dismissed the Service. The circumstances surrounding this are obscure - the official files are Missing. However, determined to do his bit, Frederick re-enlisted into the newly formed Tank Corps (19th Regt)as a Private. This unit, though was never deployed to the Western Front and Frederick ended the war still in training. || Portrait of 2nd Lt, Frederick William Pear Hodges, East Lancashire Regiment Ariel Reconnaissance ; Photo of Western Front at Acheville Ariel; Reconnaissance Photo of Western Front at Acheville ; Photograph/Post Card of German Army Reconnaissance Squad ; Medals of 2Lt Frederick W P Hodges ; Epaulette from a German Uniform ; Billeting Agreement ; Tactical Message ; Photo: Men of the South Staffordshire Regiment, 1914

Colin Butler, who submitted this story, worked for Lyn Macdonald researching WW1 and now runs battlefield tours to the Menin Gate. He met Harry Patch (1898-2009)and organised the return of Harry as a member of the 7th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, and the oldest surviving WW1 soldier, to Langemarck to unveil a plaque on 27 September 2008. He submitted an album of memorabilia associated with the Langemarck plaque ceremony. || Album of memorabilia associated with the Langemarck plaque ceremony

These are the medals awarded to 2Lt Frederick W P Hodges for his military service in WW1. From Left to right: The Military Cross; The 1914-15 Campaign Star; The 1914-18 British War Medal; The 1914-18 Victory Medal; The Defence Medal, 1939-45.