Private Arthur Wellington Hodge

Arthur Wellington Hodge was born on September 7, 1925, to Joseph and Florence Hodge in Bruce Township. He was the second oldest of 15 siblings, listed from eldest to youngest: Victor, Arthur, Frederick, Grace, Rose, Glen, Albert, Charlie, Marjorie, Helen, Raymond, Donald, Gladys, Carleen, and Shirley. Arthur grew up in a bustling household in Port Elgin, Ontario. Arthur attended the local school, completing Grade 8 by age 13 before choosing to leave school to help support his family financially. At that time, Arthur found employment with Kolps Farm where he remained until he enlisted in the military.

While World War II was in full momentum when Arthur enlisted in the army on April 13, 1944, at number 1 District Depot in London, Ontario on the heels of his older brother Victor who joined the military earlier that year, on May 4, 1944, Arthur was sent to the Basic Training Centre to begin his military training. Arthur was interested in the Paratroops where his older brother Victor had joined.  It wasn’t long after basic training that Arthur volunteered for the selection process to become a paratrooper.  Arthur being determined to achieve his goals, passed all the physical and psychological testing required and was selected to attend the Canadian Parachute Training Centre in Shilo, Manitoba. Arthur graduated from parachute training on October 18, 1944, and was a proud paratrooper. He began receiving an additional $1.40 per diem for parachute pay.   

Arthur was granted a 20-day furlough before disembarking for the United Kingdom on December 25, 1944, and reported for duty with the Canadian General Reinforcement Unit.  Arthur was then transferred to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Training Unit and sent to the Parachute Training School at Ringway, England where he would remain until the war ended.  He was granted 30 days' leave before returning to his first stop in Camp Niagara, Canada.  Arthur was accepted in the Interim Force and by March 4, 1946, Arthur was back at his old stomping grounds, the A-35 Canadian Parachute Training Centre in Shilo, Manitoba. On June 18, 1946, Arthur was discharged from the military and returned to civilian life.

Shortly after the war, Arthur was at Port Elgin Beach where he met a woman named Susan (Betty) Elizabeth Williams. They fell in love and married a short time later.  Arthur and Betty started a family with four children, Darlene, Donald, Gary and Wayne. Around the same time Arthur met Betty, he began working at Stelco Steel in Hamilton.  He retired from there after 42 years of dedicated service.  Arthur and Betty remained very active with golfing and plenty of travel.  However, Arthur was no longer too keen on flying, therefore most of his travel was done by car, bus or train.  

Arthur's health declined and he then moved to Riviera Retirement Home. Then Arthur passed away on March 11, 2009, in his 84th year.  Arthur and Betty remain together at Hamilton Mountain Cemetery.  A permanent poppy is part of Arthur's headstone. If you have taken the time to read about Arthur Hodge, then you have kept his memory alive. 

Information and pictures courtesy of Carleen Hodge-Rushton     

M36 Mills Bomb

Below is an M36 Mills Bomb. These hand grenades were standard issued to the ground troops, Pte. Hodge would have used these hand grenades during his basic training and while deployed to England as part of the Training Company.  You can read more about the M36 Mills Bomb in the equipment section of this website.