Page 40 - Chiron Calling Autumn/Winter 2022

It would have been a demanding time to be posted to Ireland. In the early 20th Century, Ireland seemed to be heading toward civil war. Nationalists in the mainly Roman Catholic areas demanded more independence from Britain, while Protestants in the North threatened violent resistance if the demand was granted.
Captain Hodgkins would have witnessed “The Curragh Incident” (also known as the Curragh Mutiny) of July 1914 when 57 out of the 70 British Army Officers based in the Curragh camp, many of them Irish unionists, threatened to resign their commissions in the British Army rather than enforce the Home Rule Act. Brigadier-General Herbert Gough led the men, who were not technically guilty of mutiny, as they had not yet refused to carry out a direct order.
Asquith’s government backed down, claiming an “honest misunderstanding”, and reinstated the men. The War Office in London declared that the army would not
be used to enforce the Home Rule Act, but the men who issued this statement were later forced to resign.
The outbreak of World War One in August temporarily diffused the impending crisis.
As a member of one of the three regiments of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, Captain Hodgkins set sail from Dublin on 15 August 1914. He served with the 5th Lancers until
he received orders to report to the Number 2 Veterinary Hospital on 13 December 1914 before being recalled to London in January 1915 to take command of Number 3 Veterinary Hospital.
Within three months of the war commencing, it became evident to General Headquarters that additional veterinary hospitals would have to be built to cater to the number of sick
or injured animals. With operations around Ypres, Armentieres,
and Bethune, the journey of approximately 300 kilometres back to hospitals in La Havre proved to be long and exhausting for wounded animals. A number had been found dead upon arrival, and more had to be destroyed.
Major General John Moore, the Assistant Director of Veterinary Services (ADVS), raised the issue of the need for new hospitals in his War Diary on 18 October 1914:
“... had conference regarding
the reorganisation of Veterinary Hospitals and establishment necessary. We think that hospitals should be on the basis of 1000 animals. No matter what numbers we fix, it is bound to be exceeded, and excess over 1500 makes matters difficult for successful working.”
A meeting on 22nd October
1914 between Major General Moore, Brigadier-General Sir F.
S. Garrett (Director of Remounts) and the Inspector General of Communications Major-General F.S. Robb resulted in a decision
to establish hospitals at Boulogne (No.3), Abbeville (No. 5) and Forge- Les-Eaux (Nos. 7 & 8)
Two days later (24thOctober 1914), Moore records:
“...at Boulogne, today to find a suitable site for Veterinary Hospital – went around all the favourable localities with Base Commander (Colonel Asser) – Ponte De Briques, Hesdigneul and Winereaux. The last would be bleak, the first named the best site and favourable to water. There is also a small siding nearby, so horses would not have to go to Boulogne. I intend building winter quarters for 1000 horses there.”
Four companies put in tenders to undertake works at Boulogne in the Autumn of 1914. This work included hospital extensions, a convalescent camp, and a veterinary hospital at
St. Leonard (Number 3). The four companies to put in tenders for the contract were McAlpine and Son of Glasgow; Humphreys and Company of London; W. Harbrow and Company of London and W.G. Tarrant and Company of Surrey.
The contract was awarded on 5th November 1914 to McAlpine and Son on a lump sum basis with the contactor undertaking to supply all labour, materials, and transport. The total value of the contract was £55,000.
By March 1915, Captain Hodgkins had returned to France, waiting
to open the Number 3 Veterinary
Hospital. In the meantime, he served at Number 10 Veterinary Hospital.
The first reference to Captain Hodgkins as the commander of Number 3 Hospital is in the Army Lists for April 1915.
Major General Moore made an interesting posting to Number
3 Hospital on 1st May 1915. He appointed Lieutenant Frederick Hobday to Number 3 to “assist
in special surgical cases.” John Hodgkins and Frederick Hobday were to cross paths again! Hobday went on to see active service in France, Italy and Albania with King Edward’s Horse Regiment. He was to command the No 22 Veterinary Hospital at Abbeville, the largest hospital for mules and horses on the Western Front.
By July 1915, Captain Hodgkins was promoted to Major. As the war progressed, John Hodgkins was
to receive further promotions. He was promoted to acting Lieutenant Colonel in June 1918/9. So, in June 1918, he was a Captain, Temporary Major, and Acting Lieutenant Colonel.
While commander of Number
3, Captain Hodgkins was to be Mentioned in Dispatches on 16th June 1916. Mentioned in Dispatches meant that his name was written by a superior officer in an official report and sent to the high command.
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