William Henry Hodgman

A Skipper with H. M. Trawler Lord Ridley, William died on 10th of May 1917 at the age of 39. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 15 July 1877, a son of Joseph Thomas and Eliza Hodgman. In 1881 his family lived at 2 North Raglan Street and, by 1891, they were living at 21 Tonning Street. 

On 10 May 1897 William married Priscilla Ethell at Saint John’s Church, New Clee, Grimsby. William was a fisherman and they both lived at 164 Stanley Street, New Clee. By 1901 they were living at 3 Collins Court, Whitehaven, and William was a fisherman. Priscilla died in 1903.

On 26 February 1906 William married Emily Johnson at Clee, Lincolnshire. By 1911 they were living at 30 Humberstone Road, Grimsby, and William was a fisherman.

In 1904 William was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper. From August 1911 to December 1912 William was the skipper of the trawler King George; from February 1913 to February 1914, he was the skipper of the trawler Ameer; and from February 1914 the skipper of the trawler Ariadne. 

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 19 July 1911. From 4 August 1914 William was the Skipper in charge of the requisitioned trawler Boreas. From 28 December 1916 he was the Skipper of the Lord Ridley.

On 10 May 1917 the Lord Ridley struck a mine, off Whitby, and sank with the loss of ten crew, including William.