Hi, Can anybody help me with information on the service of this Recce officer, I believe he was originally commissioned into the Queens Regt before they became Recce Corps and he served in North Africa and Italy? Any info would be greatly appreicated, Cheers, Rick
Lieut Hodsell Found a mention of him in 56 Recce war diary-will have another look but someone else will probably find other mentions of him before I do! Lesley
That is excellent news, I have a photo of him which I will post when I can locate it again... apart for the London Gazette entries I have no other information.. Cheers & thanks, Rick
Hi Rick Lieut R F Hodsoll No 99835, 56 Recce From the 56 Recce war diary 15/1/1942 at Chadacre Camp- "Lieut Hodsoll and 2/Lieut Schofield proceeded to Colchester to collect the 100 men of the Army Class Intake arriving at the divisional reception centre. All men were of 19 years of age group and had been Matrix tested before joining; the grading of the men was on the average, in comparison with other units, high. They arrived at the camp in two batches, the first of 16 and the second of 74". My dad was one of these men! What's your interest Rick? I will see if I can find him mentioned some more. Lesley
War diary 56 Recce 16/1/1942 at Chadacre Camp- "Seven more men of the Army class were received making a total of 97 out of the 100 reported of which the three others were accountable for. The first days arrivals had all their particulars documented and kit to Home Service Scale issued" With thanks to Rob (Ramacal) for originally copying this war diary.
Hi, many years ago before i joined the army I collected militaria and I was given a group of medals and a photo of Lt R F Hodsoll by a lady that my dad did some work for. I never thought much about them until a few months ago so now I thought I would try and find out a little about his military service and document it... cheers, Rick
Rick these are all the mentions in the 56 Recce War Diary that I can find. Thanks to Lesley for the ones she posted and as Lesley said thanks to Rob (Ramacal) for originally copying the 56 Recce War Diary. 1941 March High Halden 5th A TEWT was conducted by Capt G D Murray. O’s C Coys plus one officer and one senior NCO per Coy attended. 2/Lt R F Hodsoll appointed Unit Weapon Training Officer. Bn Orders Part 1 369-384 published today. April High Halden 26th Grenade throwing at Lydd ranges was practiced under Lieut. Hodsoll, Bn W.T. Offficer. Forty men of each company were practiced and each man threw 2 grenades. The Commanding Officer visited the range in the afternoon. 1 O.R. returned off a 3 weeks course in 3” Mortar at S.A.S. Bisley. 2 O.Rs returned off a Gas course at Tregantle. Bn Orders Pt 1 published 855-863 May High Halden 1st The unit was visited by the G.O.C.12th Corps. Lt General Montgomery CB DSO, who was visiting the Divisional front. Lieut. Shaw, RAMC took over the duties of unit MO from Lieut. Mackay. “C” Company zeroed rifles at Chapel Bank Range under the WTO, Lieut. Hodsoll. Bn Orders Pt 1 published 907-911 September Uckfield 29th Bn HQ advance party consisting of 2/Lieut P G Bennett and nine OR’s and HQ Coy. advance party consisting of Lieut Hodsoll and 15 OR’s proceeded to the new area to take over billets. The QM drew up all accommodation stores and these were done at Blackdown House, HQ Coy. billet. Captain Murray, the Bn Training Officer, lectured to students of the South Eastern Command Coy. Comds School on the Recce Battalion and this was followed by a demonstration carried out by A and C Coys. Bn Orders Part 1 published 2020-2031 October Uckfield 9th The unit was visited by members of the Swedish Military Staff in this country. “A” Coy provided an Assault Demonstration carried out by their Infantry Pl. “C” Coy demonstrated a Scout Coy HQ and Scout Pl as at War Establishment. The Signal Pl in the afternoon provided a demonstration of R/T equipment and the setting up of ground stations. Full programme see Appendix “A”/2. 2/Lieut Busby was attached to this unit from 47 Div Signals for the purpose of training and classifying extra Driver Operators. Lieut Hodsoll, R.F. visited the 62nd A.Tk Regt, R.A. with reference to the training of personnel in the A.Tk Pl. Sgt B...... proceeded to the R.S.I. Catterick on a Signal Refresher Course. This was all due to the Conference at GHQ. “B” Coy carried out a night convoy scheme in the area of WINCHESTER. For fuller details see Appendix A/3 Bn Orders Part 1 published 2099-2109 10th 2/Lieuts Cassells and Mitchell, D.G. were posted to the Battalion from OCTU and were attached to HQ and “C” Coys respectively. 2/Lieut Cassells was appointed Assistant A.Tk Pl Commander under Lieut Hodsoll. The IO visited HQ 55 Div to hand over finally the affiliation of the 19th (Rother) Bn Home Guard to 55 Div. The Commanding Officer visited “B” Coy in the field. Bn Orders Part 1 published 2110-2115 19th Lieut Hodsoll the A/Tk Platoon Commander and 24 OR’s of the platoon were attached to 246 A/Tk Battery RA for training in the 2 pdr A/Tk gun. 2/Lieuts Brammall and Haswell of 1st Northants Yeomanry were attached to this unit and were posted to C and HQ companies respectively. The Commanding Officer held a short conference with the QM and MTO with reference to the move. For equipment received see Appendix B/3 November Fernhurst 5th Lt R F Hodsoll and 30 Ors proceeded as an advance party to the new location. These men were to be employed under the Res and Pioneers working on the camp as labour parties. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 2293-2301 8th Capt R W M R Hartland Mahon the 2nd in command of B coy and 45 Ors proceeded to the new location to re-inforce the working party under Lieut Hodsoll sent earlier in the month. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 2310-2317 21st Notification was received that a total draft of 10 NCOs would be received by this unit from out of the following units: 1/5th and 1/6th and 9th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers 5th Bn KORR. Captain Simon, the Medical Officer, reported to Hobart House, The War Office, for interview. The AA & QMG 56th Division, Lt Colonel Hall, visited the unit and the disposal of 4 armoured cars was decided upon. The IO and Lieut Hodsoll reconnoitred a site for an alternative camp for three companies. Contact was made with the DRCE Bury St Edmunds and the SAQC Capt Huntley at Newmarket. 10 Carriers were reported by the advance party as having arrived for the unit at the old location. The Sergeant Major of A coy joined the unit with a wireless truck that had been in workshops. 152 pairs of gumboots were received and 700 duckboards were due for issue to the unit. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 2361-2369 22nd The IO and Lieut Hodsoll visited two suggested sites for a three company camp. One was found to be ideally suitable and contact was made with Capt Friend-James, S.C. (Q) of area. Lt May and 2/Lts Lumb and Fulton returned to the old location with a party of drivers from A and C coys to collect the carriers. 2/Lt Chadwick, who was attached on probation to this unit, was posted to No. 6 Pioneer Corps, Somerset. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 2370-2373 26th Lieutenants Hodsoll and Stewart proceeded on a course at the Recce Junior Leaders’ School, Annan. The IO carried out a reconnaissance of an alternate route to concentration area as the proposed route as laid down by Division was unsatisfactory. OC 140 Fd Amb visited the camp and arranged to see the Commanding Officer on Monday Dec 1st. The Commanding Officer held a conference for company commanders and various administrative difficulties were discussed. 2 NCOs were transferred from 1/6 Bn Lancashire Fusiliers and joined on 26.11.41. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 2394-2401 December Chadacre 11th Lieutenants Hodsoll and Stewart completed a course at the Recce J.L.S. 2/Lt Schofield and 2 Ors returned from a course of instruction in the 2/pdr A/Tk gun. 2/Lt Brodie proceeded on the a/m ? course Col Hambro, the local Home Guard Commander, visited the Commanding Officer to discuss the possibility of our NCOs instructing his men in weapon training, Drill, Fieldcraft, Unarmed Combat and Signalling. Notification was received that 2/Lt Hamer, F.G. of the RAOC, the OME attached to this unit was to be posted to mobilisation centre, Arnold, Notts. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 2511-2519 1942 JANUARY Chadacre 15th Lieut Hodsoll and 2/Lieut Schofield proceeded to Colchester to collect the 100 men of the Army Class Intake arriving at the Divisional Reception Centre. All men were of the 19 years of age Group and had been Matrix tested before joining; the grading of the men was on the average, in comparison with other units, high. They arrived at the camp in two batches, the first of 16 and the second of 74. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 121-130 20th The Assistant MTO returned with the 14 15cwts, which he had collected from Breeden. The initial eight weeks training of the Army Class Intake was started. The formation of “R” company had been entrusted to Captain D G Murray, the Battalion Training Officer; he was assisted by Lieut Hodsoll, the Battalion Weapon Training Officer, Lieut Barrass, who had completed his months probationary attachment to the Reconnaissance Corps and been accepted, and 2/Lieut Day. Instructors, platoon sergeants and section corporals had been picked from the three Scout companies. A draft of 5 men was received from No 1 Recce Training Centre; this was to complete the draft of 20, which had arrived at the end of last year of which only 15 had arrived at that time. Lieut K W C H Stewart was ordered by the War Office to report to the Recce Junior Leaders School, Annan as an instructor. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 156-168 February Chadacre 9th 2/Lieuts Burke and Cassell attended a two day course in Aircraft Recognition at the 56 Divisional Cadre, Colchester. B Coy moved down to Mushroom FARM, Wetherfield. For a fortnights detachment. The object was to send each Recce Company down to this location for a fortnight in order to carry out detailed maintenance on vehicles and to give the Coy Comd a chance to have his complete company at his disposal. Due to the condition of Chadacre at this period both vehicle maintenance and the problem of finding enough men to carry out essential work and training were becoming impossible. Lieut R F Hodsoll, the Battalion Weapon Training Officer, started an NCO’s Weapon Training Refresher Course lasting one week. Three NCO vacancies per company were catered for and were to provide instructors for a longer course to be run in the future, meanwhile they were to supervise Weapon Training within their own companies. Major Carr lectured to officers and senior NCOs on “The Organisation of A.B.G.B.” Battalion Orders Part 1 published 318-239 24th Captain W J Sandars returned from a course at the School of Military Administration Brockenhurst. Captain G D Murray and Lieut Hodsoll reconnoitred an area on St Osyths Marsh, where AA firing from vehicles could be carried out. A Company changed over with B Company at Mushroom Farm. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 440-445 24th Captain W J Sandars returned from a course at the School of Military Administration Brockenhurst. Captain G D Murray and Lieut Hodsoll reconnoitred an area on St Osyths Marsh, where AA firing from vehicles could be carried out. A Company changed over with B Company at Mushroom Farm. Battalion Orders Part 1 published 440-445 March Beyton, Felsham, Whepstead 4th One NCO proceeded on a course to the SAS Hythe Wing Bisley. 2/Lieut J A Cook the unit O.M.E. proceeded on a course at the Recce Junior Leaders Schhol Annan. Lieut Hodsoll, the Battalion Weapon Training Officer, commenced a fortnight’s weapon Training Cadre for NCOs; this was further to the one of one weeks duration held in February. Battalion Orders Part 1Published 488-496 May Colchester 26th The Commanding Officer and Lieut Edwards attended a PT demonstration at the Command PT School, Colchester. Lieut Hodsoll, the Regimental WTO proceeded on a course to the Small Arms School, Hythe Wing, Bisley Notification of the cancellation of the move to 3rd Div area was received. Regimental Orders Part 1 Published 1276-1285 27th Lieut Wigley took over the duties of Regimental WT Officer during the absence of Lieut R T Hodsoll on a course. Lieut R W Palmer, Lieut E B Barrass and Lieut M H Redman were promoted to Acting Captains to fill vacancies on the War Establishment. The Adjutant held a small HQ exercise in the morning in which Regimental HQ and the supply echelons of HQ squadron, less B echelon took part. The object was to practice harbouring drill throughout all its stages. The Commanding Officer held an orders exercise in the afternoon with the object of finding out the length of time, which must elapse between the giving out of orders and their execution. The Commanding Officer visited the Divisional Commander at HQ 176 Brigade. Regimental Orders Part 1 Published 1286-1290 September Budden 25th Regimental Orders 2127/2138; Offrs Training Day Cloth Model Exercise. A/22 Demonstration of 75 Grenade by Lt Hodsoll. November ALGIERS 16th Off loading of vehicles continues 1645: Mortar & A/Tk troops (less 2 portees) and assault tp of “B” Sqn – force under Capt R Hodsoll left for Divisional concentration area at BONE 1900: IO to conference at 78 DIV HQ with G3 18th 1030: “A” party arrive SETIF and met Capt Hodsolls party 1200: Left SETIF and proceeded en route, harboured at night at JEMMAPES neighbourhood 19th 1030: Arrived at Div report centre and proceeded to 78 Div HQ at BONE 1200: Left for PENTHIEVRE to recce concentration area. Capt R Hodsolls party arrives at PENTHIEVRE and harboured for the night 2000: CO returns from conference at 78 Div HQ with news that ---- party under Major Faircloth (hereafter known as “B” Party) had orders to proceed straight to SOUK AHRAS 2230: “A” Party proceeded to SOUK AHRAS and harboured at night at MEDJEZ SFA, 2DRs & Capt Hodsoll 20th SOUK AHRAS 1200: Arrived at BLADE force HQ. Immediate conference of situation with OC Col Hull 1630: News of Capt R Hodsolls party. Had arrived at SOUK AHRAS and were ordered to proceed to LE KRIB. “A” party --- arrived at SOUK EL ARBA for the night. 21st SOUK EL ARBA 1100: “B” party reports at SOUK AHRAS and were ordered to proceed LE KRIB 1200: “A” party split. CO to LE KEF and IO to LE KRIB, arrangements made at LE KRIB to harbour RHQ & HQ Sqn. LE KRIB 1730: Capt R Hodsollarrives, ordered to bring up party & harbour with HQ at LE KRIB. 2000: “B” Party harbouring force arrive & harbour planned 2200: “B” party arrives. “B” Sqn ordered to harbour at GAFOUR with detachment of A/Tk guns and assault troop holding bridge at EL AROUSSA. Record of journey of main party received. (A1-A2) 21st Souk Ahras 1030: Left harbour. ------------ --------- --- arrives in Souk Ahras where orders by Rear “Blade” HQ to proceed to LE KEF. On arrival at LR KEF ordered to proceed to LE KRIB. “B” Squadron go forward to GAFOUR. HQ Squadron rejoined by Capt R Hodsoll’s party. Cheers Paul
Paul, very many thanks that is excellent information...does the War Diary go on to cover Italy etc in 1943-45? Rick
Excellent reading and research by the members and a special thanks to Robert, AKA Ramacal, for obtaining the War Diaries. Regards Tom
Paul, thanks for your time... if I find anything else out about Lt Hodsoll, I will post it on this thread Rick