Hodge, William John

F/S William John Hodge was one of the young airmen who although eager to serve in the skies against the enemy, was to be lost on February 17, 1942, to the R.C.A.F., on the eve of going on operations. He had been on coastal patrol and was the navigator on his plane when, as it came into the landing strip after a cross-country trip, because of the impenetrable darkness, it crashed into a tree. F/S Hodge was removed to the hospital at Chipping Warden, Oxfordshire, but died 12 hours later. He was buried with full R.C.A.F. honors in Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey. He had been a brilliant student whose exceptionally good progress had been marked. Born in Brantford, on May 29, 1916, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hodge, 16 Port St., William was educated at King Edward

School and he graduated from the Collegiate Institute, where the high academic standing he obtained was to be reflected in his navigation class in the R.C.A.F. He volunteered for service early in 1940, but was not called until October of that year. He trained at Jarvis, Toronto, Malton and Rivers and went to England in September, 1941. He had been on the

Stedman's Book Store staff prior to his enlistment and was an adherent of the First Church of Christ Scientist. F/S Hodge had many of the fine qualities that go to make up a young Canadian, and these were so apparent to his instructors that one at Jarvis penned a beautiful verse in tribute to him after his death. Its lines in which are described the integrity, honor and valor of the young airman are a most fitting memorial.

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