Born at Winnipeg in October 1910, son of Peter Elder Hodgson (c1873-1964) and Clara Jane Phipps (1881-1935), he attended St. John’s Technical High School and graduated in 1932 with a degree from the University of Manitoba, specializing in agronomy and agricultural economics. From 1933 to 1940 he assisted Frank Leith Skinner in his horticultural work at Dropmore.

During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force, being captured by German forces and spending three months in the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He served as a vocational training supervisor for returning veterans from 1946 to 1947, Assistant Park Superintendent for the City of Winnipeg from 1947 to 1950, and Parks Board Superintendent from 1950 to his death. In the latter capacity, he was instrumental in setting up Winnipeg’s Rainbow Stage.

On 22 October 1938, he married Kathleen Helen Boulton (1913-1991) at Winnipeg and they had two sons and a daughter. He was a member of the Logan Neighbourhood House Board, Norquay Neighbourhood House Board, Welfare Council of Greater Winnipeg Board, city representative on the Greater Winnipeg Mosquito Abatement Board, Manitoba Greenkeepers Association Board, Winnipeg Summer Theatre Association Board, Canadian Legion, American Institute of Park Executives, American Association of Zoological Parks, Rotary Club, Westminster United Church, and Masons (Northern Light Lodge No. 10).

He died at Winnipeg on 1 February 1962 and was buried in the Brookside Cemetery. He is commemorated by the T. R. Hodgson Park in Winnipeg.

Find A Grave record

Thomas became a POW and was sent to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp and then to Stalag Luft III Segan.  He was a crew member of Lancaster LM 427 CF-G.  His home town was Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

POW Documents

Name: Thomas Rupert HODGSON

Born 16 October 1910

Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 33

Died 1 February 1962 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, age 51

Service: Royal Canadian Air Force

Service ID: J/90923

Service Rank: Flying Officer

Duties: Bombardier

Air Group: 1 Group, 625 Squadron

Airbase: Kelstern, Lincolnshire UK

Aircraft: Lancaster bomber LM427

Date shot down: 1 June 1944

Fate of crew: 4 KIA, 2 captured immediately, 1 evaded and captured (Hodgson).

Evasion summary: Sheltered in Haute Épine, moved to Beuvais joined by CHINN and WHELLUM.

Date captured: 11 August 1944

Capture summary: All three went from Beauvais to Prevot’s house in Paris in the morning of the 11th of august. The men hiding there were taken by Captain Jacques' secretary (Lallier) to Gestapo HQ.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #2 with Richey, Bedford, Martini, Wilson, Carr, Pennell, Perry, Bastable, Grenon, Gibson, High, Prudham, Sonshine, Robb, R Mills, Whellum, Spierenburg, Taylor, Allen, Harvie, Larson, McLaughlin, Moser, Petrich. Roberson, Stevenson, Vinecombe, Zeiser and, at train change, Lamason, Dauteuil, Watmough, Scullion, J Smith, Head, Watson, and C Hoffman.

Buchenwald ID: 78424

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, East Compound

Kriege ID: 8051

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Marlag und Milag Nord

Notes on internment: Approximately 3000 POWs were marched out by the SS in early April 1945, headed to Lubek. The column was attacked repeatedly by Allied aircraft. Hodgson is not on the list of POWs at Lubek, but the list is not comprehensive (fewer than 200 names).

Liberation: Those on the Lubek march were freed by the British Guards Armored Division on/around 27 April 1945. Those remaining at Marlag-Milag were liberated by the British 2nd Army on 2 May 1945, and airlifted to the UK by 15 May 1945.

Repatriation from ETO:

Discharged:

Veteran status:

Notes on Post-War period:

Documents:

Buchenwald file cards

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