By BRIAN TILLEY

Published at 15:18, Thursday, 29 January 2009

THE railway station tragedy was not Hexham’s only loss of life on the Home Front during the last war.

Major K.W.D. Hodgson

Many people remember the sad death of popular Hexham Queen Elizabeth Grammar School master and Tynedale rugby star K.W.D. Hodgson, who was fatally injured while on exercise with the Home Guard.

Major Hodgson was the commanding officer of the headquarters company of the Hexham Home Guard, and on January 16, 1944, he was in charge of a practice and demonstration session of Home Guard weapons.

The training session took place at the company’s weapons training school, where several practices were carried out using blackar-bombards, bombs and other explosive devices.

The session ended when Major Hodgson laid a mine to demonstrate its action to the men, assisted by Company Sergeant Major George Douglas.

CSM Douglas, a railway signalman in Civvy Street, told the subsequent inquest that he had helped the major set the mine, which was buried in the ground, with wires attached so that it could be exploded by remote control.

They then walked some 20 yards away from the mine, and took cover behind an embankment, which was some 15 feet below the level of the mine.

The mine was of the type that exploded on the ground, and then launched a projectile which exploded in the air.

CSM Douglas said: “We both took cover, and then I heard an explosion, which was quickly followed by second one, so I knew the mine had exploded.

“I had my head covered by my arms all the time, and after the second explosion, I asked Major Hodgson if he was all right.

“I received no reply.”

CSM Douglas went over and found him lying face down on the embankment, and when he turned him over, it was clear he had been seriously injured.

There was a puncture wound to his forehead just above the bridge of his nose, and he was semi-conscious.

Other members of the Home Guard gave first aid, before he was taken to Hexham Hospital, before being to transferred to another hospital in Newcastle.

Major Hodgson fought for his life for 13 days, but eventually succumbed to his injuries.

The official cause of death was septic meningitis following a compound fracture of the skull.

CSM Douglas told Newcastle City coroner Sir Alfred Appleby that the mine had not exploded in the usual way.

The mine was supposed to explode with an umbrella effect, but the shrapnel had only come down from two directions, instead of spreading all round.

“Two or three inches either way, and the piece of shrapnel which caused the fatal injury would have missed Major Hodgson,” he said.

Asked for an opinion on what had happened, CSM Douglas said it was possible Major Hodgson had mistaken the second explosion for the first, and had looked up too soon.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded, but the tragedy cut short a remarkable life, at just 38 years old.

His full name was Kingsley Wallsworth David Hodgson, but he was always known only by his initials.

He was one of the finest sportsmen in Tynedale’s history, earning undying fame as the captain of Tynedale Rugby Club first XV when they won the prestigious Northumberland Senior Cup for four years in succession from 1933-36.

He had the rare distinction of having played rugby for three different counties, captaining Northumberland against Cheshire in 1933, as well as playing for both Yorkshire and Durham.

Although he had officially retired as a player, taking over as team secretary, he still turned out for Tynedale in war-time fixtures.

He was also a cricketer of no mean ability, having played many forceful innings for the Tynedale club.

He was the history and games master at QEGS for 13 years, and his memorial service at Hexham Abbey was one of the best attended of the year.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk