The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards

Pair: Flight Sub-Lieutenant C. R. W. Hodges, 4 (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, who was killed when his Sopwith Camel was shot down during a dogfight on 18 August 1917

British War and Victory Medals (Flt. S. Lt. C. R. W. Hodges. R.N.A.S.) the Victory Medal officially re-impressed, extremely fine (2) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards.

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Charles Raymond Walker Hodges was born on 22 September 1897, and joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a temporary Flight Sub-Lieutenant on 25 June 1916. He obtained his R.A.C. Certificate No. 3439 at Eastbourne on 18 August 1916, and was posted to No. 4 (Naval) Squadron R.N.A.S. On 18 August 1917, he was piloting Sopwith Camel B3938 in formation with 4 others when attacked by 20 enemy aircraft. He was apparently hit early in the fight for he got into a spin as if out of control, billowing smoke, east of Dixmude. Reported missing presumed killed. He is commemorated by name on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. There is also a memorial to him in the Church of St John the Baptist at Thaxted, Essex, which reads:

‘MEMORY/ OF/ FLIGHT SUB LIEUT. C. RAYMOND WALKER HODGES R.N./ AGED 19 1/2 YEARS/ ELDER SON OF MAJOR CHARLES E. WALKER HODGES RFA/ AND OF LOUIE E. WALKER HODGES/ SHOT DOWN 10 MILES/ EAST OF DIXMUDE AT/ 12000 FEET UP IN A/ FIGHT AGAINST HEAVY/ ODDS/ AFTER HIS/ FLIGHT OF FIVE PLANES/ HAD ACCOUNTED FOR/ THREE OUT OF A TOTAL/ OF TWENTY SIX ENEMY/ MACHINES, ON AUG 18TH 1917/ A MODEST HERO/ LOVED BY ALL’.

Sold with record of service and various copied combat reports for the period May to July, 1917.