John William Hodgson
‘In my hand no price I bring, Simply to the Cross I cling’
Location:
St James Church
Hutton In The Forest
Eden
Cumbria
CA11 9TJ
Details on cross:
Private John W Hodgson
16 Canadian Scottish
Killed in Action 26.2.1918
Text type (tags, carved) No tags – this cross has been repaired, details on plate fixed to cross of unknown date.
Cross dimensions in mm
Shaft Height 1385 mm
Cross beam width 540 mm
Width of wood 110 mm
Thickness or depth 50 mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: Two screws one in middle of cross and one at the bottom.
Detailing: – see below
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): None
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): None
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): None
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): None
Notes and observations:
Cross can be found inside the Church and is to the right once you enter through the door.
Cross is painted white (was painted green at one point) and has been restored by the addition of a metal plate 540 x 110 x 5 mm which is painted white as is the cross.
Church warden informed me that the cross was outside and was in a very sorry state, and the local parish paid for it to be conserved and the metal plate was added as the centre section of the cross was so badly rotted. During repair, white paint was found under the green paint, so the restorer painted the cross white which seems to match other crosses of the period. Cannot be sure how much of this cross is the original. Original cross was located outside and was fixed to the inside of the perimeter wall of the church yard to the left of the gate. Evidence of it being painted green can be found on the wall and also in the IWM database.
CWGC
John William Hodgson
Rank: Private
Service No: 150952
Date of Death: 26/02/1918
Age: 28
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry 16th Bn.
Grave Reference: V. A. 6.
Cemetery: BULLY-GRENAY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, BRITISH EXTENSION
Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Frances A. Hodgson, of Hutton Row, Hutton-in-the-Forest, Penrith.
His gravestone in Bully Grenay reads ‘In my hand no price I bring, Simply to the Cross I cling’. the dedication made by his mother
He is commemorated in the First world War Book of Remembrance
Entry from the IWM.
Current location
Right of the main Church gate attached to the perimeter wall of the grave yard.
St James Church
Hutton In The Forest
Eden
Cumbria
CA11 9TJ
England
OS Grid Ref.: NY 45939 36432
Denomination: Church of England
Description Battlefield Cross. Painted Green with inscription plate attached to the cross piece.
Inscription Private John W Hodgson/16th Canadian Scottish/ Killed in action 26.2.1918
Inscription legible? No
Names on memorial None recorded
Survey and photographs courtesy of Mike Edwards
Survey 17/11/2016
