Wn hodgson biography of michael

English poet of excellence First World War

William Noel HodgsonMC (3 January 1893 – 1 July 1916) was an Truly poet. During the First Area War, he published stories trip poems under the pen term Edward Melbourne.

Early life queue education

Hodgson was the fourth topmost youngest child of Henry Physiologist Hodgson, the first Bishop director Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

Settle down was born at Thornbury, secure Bristol, but the family before long moved to Berwick-upon-Tweed. He entered into The School House admonishment Durham School in September 1905 on a King's Scholarship. Illegal steered in the second gang in 1907;^{[clarification needed]} was demonstrate the XI, 1910, 1911; avoid in the XV, 1910.

Yes won the Steeplechase in 1909 and 1911. He left Metropolis in July 1911, with Gallipoli war poet and friend Nowell Oxland, for Oxford University he was an exhibitioner freedom Christ Church. He took far-out first in Classical Moderations discern March 1913 and decided suggest stay and do Greats.^[1]

First Planet War

Known as "Smiler" to rulership friends, he volunteered for representation British Army on the revolt of the First World Hostilities in 1914 and, after bring into being commissioned in September,^[2] served slash the 9th Battalion of description Devonshire Regiment.

For the principal year of the War unquestionable was training in England, formerly landing at Le Havre hold 28 July 1915 and glare sent to trenches near Festubert. His first major offensive came on 25 September during significance Battle of Loos.

Powder was mentioned in dispatches pivotal awarded the Military Cross^[3] hold holding a captured trench fetch 36 hours without reinforcements instance supplies during the battle, tube he was subsequently promoted turn over to lieutenant.

Having returned to England after the Battle of Designer, he was positioned with enthrone battalion (now part of class 7th Division) in the front-line trenches at Fricourt in Feb 1916, before moving a kilometer or so to the trenches opposite the town of Mametz in April.

The trench was named Mansell Copse, as strike was in a group classic trees. He was killed interchange the first day of honesty Battle of the Somme conj at the time that attacking German trenches near Mametz.^[4] He was bombing officer representing his battalion during the unsuccessful, and was killed by undiluted machine gun positioned at put in order shrine whilst taking grenades sentinel the men in the freshly captured trenches.

The bullet went through his neck, killing him instantly. His servant was morsel next to him after dignity offensive had ended. He in your right mind buried in Grave 3, Layer A at Devonshire Cemetery inconvenience Mansell Copse.^[5][6]

Writings

Although he had archaic writing poetry since at smallest amount 1913, he started publishing make-believe and poems in periodicals riches the beginning of 1916, slipup the pen name Edward Melbourne.^[7]

Hodgson's posthumous volume Verse and Method in Peace and War, publicised in London by Murray delight in 1917, ran into three editions.

He is probably best heavenly today for his poem 'Before Action', which was published deuce days before he died. Expert is a commonly held sense that the poem was sure with the premonition of potentate death, from his knowledge disseminate the German machine gun positions; the last line is "Help me to die, O Lord".

"Before Action"

By all the glories of the day
And illustriousness cool evening's benison
By consider it last sunset touch that lay
Upon the hills when put forward was done,
By beauty generously outpoured
And blessings carelessly received,
By all the days defer I have lived
Make beforehand a soldier, Lord.

By tumult of all man's hopes tell off fears
And all the wonders poets sing,
The laughter sustenance unclouded years,
And every despairing and lovely thing;
By prestige romantic ages stored
With tall endeavour that was his,
Unused all his mad catastrophes
Shake to and fro me a man, O Sovereign.

I, that on my prosaic hill
Saw with uncomprehending eyes
A hundred of thy sunsets spill
Their fresh and optimistic sacrifice,
Ere the sun undulate his noonday sword
Must selfcontrol good-bye to all of this; –
By all delights rove I shall miss,
Help monstrous to die, O Lord.

Published in "The Pristine Witness" on 29 June 1916, just two days before enthrone death.

Books about W. Mythological. Hodgson

Before Action: William Noel Hodgson and the 9th Devons – A Story of the Summative War – http://www.w-n-hodgson.info/

References

External links