Remembering Private Lester Dean Hodgson—Died of Sickness December 23, 1918

Lester Dean Hodgson was born at Goldboro, Guysborough County, on August 28, 1896, the youngest of Hiram and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Hodgson’s four children. Lester’s older sister, Stella, married Otho Lee “Arthur” Charles, a native of Stowe, ME, at Goldboro on October 3, 1911. The newlyweds established residence at Ipswich, MA.

Four years later, Hiram and Elizabeth parted ways. While Hiram remained in Nova Scotia, Elizabeth and her two youngest children, James Carlyle and Lester, relocated to South Hamilton, MA, close to Arthur and Stella’s home. While the young men quickly found work in their new community, the war raging overseas soon disrupted their civilian lives.

Following the United States’ April 6, 1917 declaration of war on Germany, the American government introduced compulsory military service. On June 5, 1917, James registered for the draft at Wenham, MA. As a British subject, however, he chose to serve with the Royal Navy’s Inland Waterways & Docks Corps (Transportation Branch),formally joining the Corps at Sandwich, MA, on February 21, 1918.

One year later, Lester registered for the draft at Beverly, MA, on June 5, 1918, As with his brother, he exercised his right to serve with a British Imperial unit. After completing the required documents and medical examination, Lester enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Boston, MA, on October 14, 1918 and departed for Canada.

One week later, Lester arrived at Halifax and proceeded to Camp Aldershot, near Kentville, NS, where he commenced training with the 1st Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment. As the war in Europe was entering its final stages, the prospects for overseas service were slim. Following the November 11 Armistice, many of the Camp Aldershot soldiers were dispersed to other units.

On December 3, Lester was assigned to the 6th Battalion, Canadian Garrison Regiment, Halifax. Within days of his transfer, he fell ill and was admitted to Cogswell St. Military Hospital, Halifax, on December 12, suffering from a combination of influenza and pneumonia. While his temperature and heart rate were initially quite elevated, Lester’s condition improved by mid-month. Within several days, however, his symptoms returned and by December 21 staff reported the first instance of “delirium.”

On the morning of December 23, 1918, medical notes initially described Lester’s circumstances as “somewhat better.” By early afternoon, however, his condition worsened rapidly and he passed away shortly after 3:20 p.m. Private Lester Dean Hodgson’s remains were transported to Goldboro, where he was laid to rest in Bay View Cemetery.

Pte. Lester Hodgson's headstone, Bay View Cemetery, Goldboro, NS

Lester’s story is one of 64 profiles contained in Bantry Publishing’s First World War Honour Roll of Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Volume II: 1918 - 1937, available for purchase online at bantrypublishing.ca .