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{{short description|Irish cricketer, rugby union player, and Royal Air Force officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
{{Infobox cricketer
| name =
| name =
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| country = Ireland
| country = Ireland
| fullname = Francis Samuel Hodder
| fullname = Francis Samuel Hodder
| birth_date = 11 September 1906
| birth_date = 11 February 1906
| birth_place = [[Carrigaline]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Ireland]]
| birth_place = [[Carrigaline]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Ireland]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1943|9|6|1906|9|11|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1943|9|6|1906|2|11}}
| death_place = [[Rheinberg]], [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
| death_place = [[Böchingen]], [[Nazi Germany]]
| nickname =
| nickname =
| family =
| family =
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}}
}}


'''Francis Samuel Hodder''' (11 September 1906 – 6 September 1943) was an [[Irish people|Irish]] first-class cricketer, rugby union player and [[Royal Air Force]] officer. Hodder served in the Royal Air Force from 1925 until his death in 1943 during the [[Second World War]]. He was also a skilled sportsman, playing [[first-class cricket]] for the [[Royal Air Force cricket team]] and [[rugby union]] for [[London Irish]].
'''Francis Samuel Hodder''' (11 February 1906 – 6 September 1943) was an Irish first-class cricketer, rugby union player and [[Royal Air Force]] officer. Hodder served in the Royal Air Force from 1925 until his death in 1943 during the [[Second World War]]. During his athletic career, he played for the [[Royal Air Force cricket team]] and [[rugby union]] for [[London Irish]].


==Early life and military career==
==Early life and military career==
The son of Samuel and Maud Hodder, he was born at Ringabella House in [[Carrigaline]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="BOOK">{{cite book |last1=McCrery |first1=Nigel |title=The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two |date=2011 |publisher=Pen and Sword |page=372-73 |volume=2nd volume |isbn=1526706989 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RYQwDwAAQBAJ&dq |language=en}}</ref> He was educated in England at [[Hill House School, Doncaster|Forest Hill House School]], where he played for the school cricket team.<ref name="BOOK"/> On one occasion while playing for the school he scored a [[century (cricket)|century]] and took all ten wickets.<ref name="BOOK"/> After leaving Forest Hill, he took up employment with [[Midland Bank]].<ref name="BOOK"/> However, he became dissatisfied with his job, instead enlisting with the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[pilot officer]] in 1925.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33134|date=19 February 1926|page=1245}}</ref><ref name="BOOK"/> He was promoted to the rank of [[flying officer]] in January 1927.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33246|date=8 February 1927|page=868}}</ref> Three years later he was promoted to the rank of [[flight lieutenant]] in November 1930.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33658|date=4 November 1930|page=6959}}</ref>
The son of Samuel and Maud Hodder, he was born at Ringabella House in [[Carrigaline]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="BOOK">{{cite book |last1=McCrery |first1=Nigel |title=The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two |date=2011 |publisher=Pen and Sword |page=372-73 |volume=2nd volume |isbn=978-1526706980 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RYQwDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> He was educated in England at [[Hill House School, Doncaster|Forest Hill House School]], where he played for the school cricket team.<ref name="BOOK"/> On one occasion while playing for the school he scored a [[century (cricket)|century]] and took all ten wickets.<ref name="BOOK"/> After leaving Forest Hill, he took up employment with [[Midland Bank]].<ref name="BOOK"/> However, he became dissatisfied with his job, instead enlisting with the [[Royal Air Force]] as a [[pilot officer]] in 1925.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33134|date=19 February 1926|page=1245}}</ref><ref name="BOOK"/> He was promoted to the rank of [[flying officer]] in January 1927.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33246|date=8 February 1927|page=868}}</ref> Three years later he was promoted to the rank of [[flight lieutenant]] in November 1930.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33658|date=4 November 1930|page=6959}}</ref>


Hodder played [[first-class cricket]] for the [[Royal Air Force cricket team]] against the [[British Army cricket team|Army]] at [[The Oval]] in 1931.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/30/30291/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Francis Hodder |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-03-20 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Batting twice in the match, Hodder was ended the Royal Air Force first-innings [[not out|unbeaten]] having scored a single run, while in their second-innings he remained unbeaten on 10.<ref name="SCORE">{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/13/13945.html |title=Army v Royal Navy, 1931 |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-03-20 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> With his right-arm bowling, he bowled a total of 28 [[over (cricket)|overs]] across the match, conceding 69 runs and taking the wicket of [[Bill Leggatt]].<ref name="SCORE"/> He also played [[rugby union]], playing for [[London Irish]] for ten seasons, as well as representing [[Kent Rugby Football Union|Kent]] in the [[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]].<ref name="BOOK"/> He also trialled for [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]], but was not successful in being selected to play.<ref name="BOOK"/>
Hodder played [[first-class cricket]] for the [[Royal Air Force cricket team]] against the [[British Army cricket team|Army]] at [[The Oval]] in 1931.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/30/30291/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Francis Hodder |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=20 March 2019 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Batting twice in the match, Hodder was ended the Royal Air Force first-innings [[not out|unbeaten]] having scored a single run, while in their second-innings he remained unbeaten on 10.<ref name="SCORE">{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/13/13945.html |title=Army v Royal Navy, 1931 |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=20 March 2019 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> With his right-arm bowling, he bowled a total of 28 [[over (cricket)|overs]] across the match, conceding 69 runs and taking the wicket of [[Bill Leggatt]].<ref name="SCORE"/> He also played [[rugby union]], playing for [[London Irish]] for ten seasons, as well as representing [[Kent Rugby Football Union|Kent]] in the [[County Championship (rugby union)|County Championship]].<ref name="BOOK"/> He also trialled for [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]], but was not successful in being selected to play.<ref name="BOOK"/>


During the 1930s he served in [[Kingdom of Iraq|Iraq]] and [[Aden Province|Aden]], as well as passing a specialist engineering course.<ref name="BOOK"/> He was promoted to the rank of [[squadron leader]] in February 1937.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34366|date=2 February 1937|page=717}}</ref> He married Evelyn Margaret Bowden-Smith in early 1940, with the couple having two sons.<ref name="BOOK"/>
During the 1930s he served in [[Kingdom of Iraq|Iraq]] and [[Aden Province|Aden]], as well as passing a specialist engineering course.<ref name="BOOK"/> He was promoted to the rank of [[squadron leader]] in February 1937.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34366|date=2 February 1937|page=717}}</ref> He married Evelyn Margaret Bowden-Smith in early 1940, with the couple having two sons.<ref name="BOOK"/>


==WWII service and death==
==WWII service and death==
He served during the [[Second World War]] and was stationed in France at its outbreak, later working alongside the [[RAF Advanced Air Striking Force|Advanced Air Striking Force]] to cover the retreating [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] during the [[Battle of France]], for which he was [[mentioned in dispatches]].<ref name="BOOK"/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34893|date=9 July 1940|page=4268|supp=y}}</ref> After the allied defeat in France, Hodder returned home and was placed on engineering duties, firstly at [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Rootes Aircraft Factory]] and later at [[Handley Page]].<ref name="BOOK"/> He was promoted to the temporary rank of [[group captain]] in March 1942,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35503|date=27 March 1942|page=1386}}</ref> with Hodder obtaining the full rank the following month.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35525|date=14 April 1942|page=1649}}</ref>
Hodder served during the [[Second World War]] and was stationed in France at its outbreak, later working alongside the [[RAF Advanced Air Striking Force|Advanced Air Striking Force]] to cover the retreating [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] during the [[Battle of France]], for which he was [[mentioned in dispatches]].<ref name="BOOK"/><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34893|date=9 July 1940|page=4268|supp=y}}</ref> After the allied defeat in France, Hodder returned home and was placed on engineering duties, firstly at [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Rootes Aircraft Factory]] and later at [[Handley Page]].<ref name="BOOK"/> He was promoted to the temporary rank of [[group captain]] in March 1942,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35503|date=27 March 1942|page=1386}}</ref> and obtained the full rank the following month.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35525|date=14 April 1942|page=1649}}</ref>


In July 1943, he was placed in command of [[RAF Syerston]].<ref name="BOOK"/> Having had little flying experience, Hodder wanted to experience what his men experienced during bombing raids. He joined the crew of a [[Avro Lancaster|Lancaster bomber]] during a bombing mission to [[Mannheim]] on the night of September 5/6.<ref name="BOOK"/> Near [[Rheinberg]] the bomber encountered a [[Luftwaffe]] night fighter and was shot down, killing all aboard with the exception of one survivor.<ref name="BOOK"/> He is buried at the [[Rheinberg War Cemetery]].<ref name="BOOK"/>
In July 1943, he was placed in command of [[RAF Syerston]].<ref name="BOOK"/> Having had little flying experience, Hodder wanted to experience what his men experienced during bombing raids. He joined the crew of a [[Avro Lancaster|Lancaster bomber]] during a bombing mission to [[Mannheim]] on the night of 5/6 September.<ref name="BOOK"/> Near [[Mannheim]] the bomber encountered a [[Luftwaffe]] night fighter and was shot down, killing all aboard with the exception of one survivor.<ref name="BOOK"/> Hodder is buried at the [[Rheinberg War Cemetery]].<ref name="BOOK"/>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:1943 deaths]]
[[Category:1943 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Cork (city)]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Cork (city)]]
[[Category:People educated at Hill House School, Doncaster]]
[[Category:People educated at Hill House School, South Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Irish rugby union players]]
[[Category:Irish rugby union players]]
[[Category:London Irish players]]
[[Category:London Irish players]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force group captains]]
[[Category:Cricketers from County Cork]]
[[Category:Irish cricketers]]
[[Category:Irish cricketers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force cricketers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force cricketers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II]]
[[Category:British military personnel killed in World War II]]
[[Category:Burials at Rheinberg War Cemetery]]
[[Category:People from Carrigaline]]
[[Category:Military personnel from County Cork]]

Latest revision as of 11:14, 23 September 2023

Francis Hodder
Personal information
Full name
Francis Samuel Hodder
Born11 February 1906
Carrigaline, Ireland
Died6 September 1943(1943-09-06) (aged 37)
Böchingen, Nazi Germany
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm (unknown style)
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 11
Batting average –
100s/50s –/–
Top score 10*
Balls bowled 168
Wickets 1
Bowling average 69.00
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 1/69
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 20 March 2019

Francis Samuel Hodder (11 February 1906 – 6 September 1943) was an Irish first-class cricketer, rugby union player and Royal Air Force officer. Hodder served in the Royal Air Force from 1925 until his death in 1943 during the Second World War. During his athletic career, he played for the Royal Air Force cricket team and rugby union for London Irish.

Early life and military career

[edit]

The son of Samuel and Maud Hodder, he was born at Ringabella House in Carrigaline, Ireland.[1] He was educated in England at Forest Hill House School, where he played for the school cricket team.[1] On one occasion while playing for the school he scored a century and took all ten wickets.[1] After leaving Forest Hill, he took up employment with Midland Bank.[1] However, he became dissatisfied with his job, instead enlisting with the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer in 1925.[2][1] He was promoted to the rank of flying officer in January 1927.[3] Three years later he was promoted to the rank of flight lieutenant in November 1930.[4]

Hodder played first-class cricket for the Royal Air Force cricket team against the Army at The Oval in 1931.[5] Batting twice in the match, Hodder was ended the Royal Air Force first-innings unbeaten having scored a single run, while in their second-innings he remained unbeaten on 10.[6] With his right-arm bowling, he bowled a total of 28 overs across the match, conceding 69 runs and taking the wicket of Bill Leggatt.[6] He also played rugby union, playing for London Irish for ten seasons, as well as representing Kent in the County Championship.[1] He also trialled for Ireland, but was not successful in being selected to play.[1]

During the 1930s he served in Iraq and Aden, as well as passing a specialist engineering course.[1] He was promoted to the rank of squadron leader in February 1937.[7] He married Evelyn Margaret Bowden-Smith in early 1940, with the couple having two sons.[1]

WWII service and death

[edit]

Hodder served during the Second World War and was stationed in France at its outbreak, later working alongside the Advanced Air Striking Force to cover the retreating British Expeditionary Force during the Battle of France, for which he was mentioned in dispatches.[1][8] After the allied defeat in France, Hodder returned home and was placed on engineering duties, firstly at Rootes Aircraft Factory and later at Handley Page.[1] He was promoted to the temporary rank of group captain in March 1942,[9] and obtained the full rank the following month.[10]

In July 1943, he was placed in command of RAF Syerston.[1] Having had little flying experience, Hodder wanted to experience what his men experienced during bombing raids. He joined the crew of a Lancaster bomber during a bombing mission to Mannheim on the night of 5/6 September.[1] Near Mannheim the bomber encountered a Luftwaffe night fighter and was shot down, killing all aboard with the exception of one survivor.[1] Hodder is buried at the Rheinberg War Cemetery.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd volume. Pen and Sword. p. 372-73. ISBN 978-1526706980.
  2. ^ "No. 33134". The London Gazette. 19 February 1926. p. 1245.
  3. ^ "No. 33246". The London Gazette. 8 February 1927. p. 868.
  4. ^ "No. 33658". The London Gazette. 4 November 1930. p. 6959.
  5. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Francis Hodder". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Army v Royal Navy, 1931". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  7. ^ "No. 34366". The London Gazette. 2 February 1937. p. 717.
  8. ^ "No. 34893". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 July 1940. p. 4268.
  9. ^ "No. 35503". The London Gazette. 27 March 1942. p. 1386.
  10. ^ "No. 35525". The London Gazette. 14 April 1942. p. 1649.
[edit]
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