Lives of the First World War

known 5th May 1917

In a letter to his mother dated the 7th May 1917 Army Chaplain Philip 'Tubby' Clayton writes that two weeks ago Australian Tunnellers lost three officers and seven men in a Hill 60 Tunnel accident in which an explosive charge went off prematurely. They had all made their Easter Communion at Talbot House and they had offered to make some memorial candlesticks in brass. The candlesticks were to be designed by 2nd Lt Daniel Hodges of the Royal West Regiment. The account then goes on to describe how a great friend of Lt Hodges had come to Talbot House and informed Tubby of his death on the 5th May 1917.He had been killed attempting to bring in a wounded member of a patrol from his battalion. He had already been out and rescued a wounded sergeant, but he was killed on his returning for the second man.

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