Queens South Africa Medal clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 & 1902 named 242 PTE C A HODGKINS HAMPSHIRE REGT.
Charles Alfred Hodgkins born 1879 at Havant, Hampshire to Charles & Martha Hodgkins. Father served in the 16th Regiment from 1861 to 1879, awarded a LS&GC medal. Charles Alfred Hodgkins enlisted into the Hampshire Regiment numbered 242 and went out to South Africa with the 3rd & 2nd Volunteer Battalions. His service papers do not survive but he received orders on 24th Mar 1902 to proceed to Johannesburg when they were quartered at Barberton. Charles left with the second party on 30th Mar 1902 and proceeded to the Barberton train station. In total 3 officers, 102 NCOs and men boarded the train at 8am in open trucks. The train left the station and almost immediately began to proceed down an incline at great pace, the trucks began to oscillate and the men could not keep their seats. It became apparent that something was seriously wrong with the brakes, dust and rocks flew up which confirmed one of carriages had left the rails, the soldiers were ordered to lie down and hold tight, one soldier jumped but was found dead afterwards. The train came to a final crash on a sharp curve, the engine laid on a donga with the boiler burst, both driver and firemen were killed. Some of the trucks turn-over and rolled down the hill. In total 38 soldiers were killed, 4 died of their wounds later, 39 were injured and only 21 were uninjured. Sadly Charles was killed and the dead were buried with full military honours at Barberton Cemetery.
