Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, V.R., reverse impressed, ‘Lieut-Colonel W. E. Hodgins, Reserve of Officers’, hallmarks for London 1901, lacking top bar, good very fine £220-260

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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William Egerton Hodgins was born in Toronto on 3 October 1850, the eldest son of John George Hodgins, I.S.O., LL.D., F.R.G.S., who was the Deputy Minister of Education for Ontario. Hodgins was educated at Hellmuth College, London, Ontario and at Toronto University. Gaining a B.A. and M.A., he was called to the Ontario Bar and served in the Department of Justice from 1883 to 1902. He entered the Military School at Toronto as a Cadet in 1866 and was subsequently gazetted an Ensign in the Militia. He joined the University Company of the Queen’s Own Rifles and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1877. In 1883 he was transferred and promoted Captain and Adjutant of the Governor-General’s Foot Guards. He was then advanced to Major in 1889 and Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding the G.G.F.G., in 1894. In 1899 after completing his tenure of command he was transferred to the Reserve of Officers. Hodgins was Acting A.D.C. to the Governor-General of Canada in 1885 and again during 1888-93. In 1902 he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, this notified in the Canada Gazette of 15 February 1902.

In April 1901 Lieutenant-Colonel Hodgins was appointed temporary Officer Commanding the Ottawa Brigade, and in May 1902 he was appointed Brigade Commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade. In that same year he transferred to the Permanent Staff of the Militia. In April 1909 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel on the Military Staff. On 22 December 1914, aged 64 years, he was appointed a Temporary Brigadier-General; and on 1 January 1915, Acting Adjutant-General on the Militia Council. Hodgins attained the rank of Temporary Major-General on 1 September 1915 and was later confirmed in that rank. During 1917-18 he represented the Canadian Militia on the overseas Demobilisation Committee. He retired on 8 March 1918 with permission to retain the rank of Major-General. For his services during the Great War, he was appointed a C.M.G. (London Gazette 3 June 1918) and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 6 July 1918). In addition to the above, he could well have been awarded the Canada General Service Medal 1866-70 and the British War Medal 1914-20.

Sold with copied research and copied photographs.