Thomas's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Thomas Hodkinson was born in Macclesfield in 1885, the son of Rachel and John Hodkinson, a railway carter. In 1891, five-year-old Thomas was living at 1 Old Hall Street, Macclesfield with his parents and siblings Ernest (16), William (10), Mary (7) and baby John, aged 7 months.
In 1901 the family was living at the Star Inn, London Road, Macclesfield and included another two children: Harry (8) and Mabel (6). Thomas had left school and was working as a telegraph messenger boy. By 1911 Rachel had died and Thomas was employed as a postman, listed by his father on the census at the family home at 53 Brook Street, Macclesfield. He was also listed as a boarder at 26 Brook Street, the home of widow Sarah Ann Beard and her family, filling in and signing the form himself.
Later in 1911 Thomas married Sarah Jane Mottershead at Holy Trinity Church, Hurdsfield, and the couple lived at 24 Garden Street, Hurdsfield, Macclesfield. They had two daughters, Gladys (born October 1912) and Doris (born July 1916).
MILITARY SERVICE
Thomas attested on 3 December 1915 and was called up on 22 September 1916. After training, he was drafted overseas to Salonika on 13 January 1917, where he was killed in action just over one year later, on 6 February 1918.
Thomas's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 8 March 1918:
LOCAL POSTMAN KILLED - A POPULAR SOLDIER
Official news has been received by Mrs Hodkinson, 24 Garden St... that her husband, Pte Thos Hodkinson, Cheshire Regt, was killed in action in Salonica on February 6th. Pte Hodkinson was 33 years of age and in civilian life was employed as a postman at the Macclesfield office. He had been in the service of the local office for 18 years and was held in the highest esteem by all his comrades. He was a regular attendant at Hurdsfield Church. Pte Hodkinson enlisted in September 1916 and went overseas about thirteen months ago. Two brothers are also serving, one in Italy and the other is in training in England.
Mrs Hodkinson has also received the following letter from the platoon officer: "You will no doubt have already received official information regarding the very sad death of your husband... At the time of his death your husband was on a working party in the trenches, when the enemy suddenly opened a burst of shell fire on the trench, and one shell dropped right in the dug-out excavation your husband was working in, instantly killing him and another man and severely wounding two others... Your husband... was so well-liked and was so willing and reliable, and always cheerful under all conditions."
His death was also reported in the Macclesfield Courier the following day:
PRIVATE THOMAS HODKINSON
Mrs Hodkinson, 24 Garden Street, has received notification that her husband... was killed at Salonica on the 6th February... He ... had written to his wife on the 3rd February, in his usual cheery manner, this letter arriving after the notification of his death. Mrs Hodkinson is left with two young children...
COMMEMORATION
Private Thomas Hodkinson is buried in Grave Ref. VI. K. 25. of the Doiran Military Cemetery, Greece. His widow asked for the inscription “THY WILL BE DONE” to be added to his headstone. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Thomas Hodkinson, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Private Thomas Hodkinson is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael's Church and Hurdsfield Holy Trinity Church war memorials, and on Macclesfield Post Office war memorial and roll of honour. The floral tributes laid when the Macclesfield Park Green War Memorial was unveiled on 21st September 1921 included one with the words "In fond remembrance of Private T. Hodkinson."
NOTES
Brother of John Hodkinson, who served as Pioneer 304679 with the Royal Engineers; and Harry Hodkinson, who served as Private 555983 with the 366th Company Labour Corps. Both survived the war.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages
Cheshire BMD website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
WWI British Army Service Records 1914-1920
WWI Absent Voters Lists: Macclesfield Parliamentary Division
Macclesfield Times: 8 March 1918
Macclesfield Courier: 9 March 1918, 24 September 1921
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.