Adopted grave of Private James William Hodkin

[LeadFarmer]

A Facebook group called Sheffield History has received a post from Jürgen Beekers who is a resident of Meijel, a village in the Netherlands asking for any information of this soldier. He/she has adopted his grave, located at Nederweert War Cemetery - locals and schools adopt WW2 graves and attend remembrance days etc, and believes the soldier to be from Sheffield. It seems they would like to get in touch with any of the family. Anyone able to help?

Here's some of their post..

 

One of the soldiers I am researching on behalf of the research group is Private James William Hodkin.

However, we don't have much information about James and so I am asking if you happen to have more information (and a photo) about him.

I would therefore like to get in touch with James’ family.

I hope they can provide me with a photo of James and any additional information.

I’m also in the possession of information regarding the circumstances in which James was killed and the location where this happened.

I would like to share this information with his family, if desired of course.

During my research I found already these data of James:

Age : 26 years

Army unit : 8th Bn. Royal Scots, 44th Infantry Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division

Military rank : Private

Army service number : 4616891

Date of death : 31 October 1944

Cemetery : Nederweert War Cemetery

Grave location : II. G. 4.

Parents : He was the son of Alonza (or Alonzo) and Lydia Bertha Hodkin, of Sheffield (according his CWGC-certificate).

Siblings : James had 9 brothers and sisters as far as I know.

Frank A. Hodkin, Nellie Hodkin, Thomas H. Hodkin, Evelyn Hodkin, Harry Hodkin, George Hodkin (killed in Burma, 12 January 1945), Marguerite Hodkin, Bernard Hodkin and Cyril Hodkin.

As far as I know, the above-mentioned siblings had children as listed below.

Frank A. Hodkin had a son named Raymond Hodkin.

Thomas H. Hodkin had a daughter named Jane Hodkin.

Marguerite was married to Wilfred Nicholson and together they had a son and a daughter, Rita and John Nicholson.

Bernard Hodkin had two sons, Malcolm and Alan Hodkin.

Dear members/readers, I would like to know if you have any information for me that would allow me to get in touch with James’ family.

If you have any further additional information regarding James, and would you like to share this with me, I would also be happy to receive it.

[Hopman]

The 1911 Census has Alonzo Hodkin married to Bertha:

Name  Mr Alonzo Hodkin

Sex  Male

Age  28

Event Date  1911

Event Place  Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Event Place (Original) Sheffield, Sheffield, Yorkshire (West Riding), England

Sub-District North Sheffield

Sub-District Numbe r2

Enumeration District  15

Registration District Sheffield

District Number  510

Event Type  Census

Birth Year (Estimated ) 1883

Birthplace  Sheffield, Yorkshire

Marital Status Married

Occupation  LABOURER ENGINEERS FITTER

Nationality BRITISH

Number in Family 5

Relationship to Head of Household Head

Relationship Code  Head

Document Type 3

Page Number 1

Source Page Type  6

Piece/Folio  795

Registration Number  RG14

Schedule Type  398

Ten years previously he was a Razor Scale Presser living on Hodgson Street.

[LeadFarmer]

Thank you Hopman, I will pass the information on.