St Stephens by Saltash War Memorial
HODGE Percy William
Percy William HODGE was the son of John and Jane HODGE. He was born at
St. Stephens, Saltash in 1882, his birth being registered in the June Q
of that year (St. Germans registration district).
1891 census aged 9 living with parents & siblings at St Stephens Hill
Cottage, Lyner View Row, St Stephens, Saltash.
1901 census aged 18 living with parents & siblings at Hawkings Tenements,
St Stephens, Saltash. Occupation Blacksmith.
1908 Percy William HODGE married Hilda Mary CHUBB both of Saltash the
marriage being registered in the March Q of that year (see St. Stephens
by Saltash banns).
1911 census: aged 28 living with wife at 5 Park Terrace, Saltash.
Occupation Armourers Crew R.N.
1914 Daughter Phyllis Mary HODGE was born on the 3rd of September (see
Saltash baptisms).
WW1 Royal Navy record:
Name: HODGE Percy W.
Rank: Armourer’s Mate
Service number: 346344
Vessel: HMS Goliath
Date Died: 13th May 1915 – Age 32
How Died: Killed in Action
Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
On the night of 12-13 May 1915 HMS Goliath was anchored in Morto Bay off
Cape Helles, along with HMS Cornwallis and a screen of five destroyers,
in foggy conditions.
Around 01:00 hours on 13th May 1915, the Turkish torpedo boat
Muavenet-I-Milliye, which was manned by a combined German and Turkish
crew, eluded the destroyers HMS Beagle and HMS Bulldog and closed on the
battleships. Muavenet-i Milliye fired two torpedoes which struck Goliath
almost simultaneously abreast her fore turret and abeam the fore funnel,
causing a massive explosion. Goliath began to capsize almost
immediately, and was lying on her beam ends when a third torpedo struck
near her after turret. She then rolled over completely and began to sink
by the bows, taking 570 of the 700-strong crew to the bottom.
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