Ronald Harker J.A.R. Hodgson-Paumier

Ronald Harker J.A.R. Hodgson-Paumier died on 16 August 1917, aged 21. Ronald was a Private in the London Scottish Regiment.

Ronald Harker JAR Hodgson-Paumier.

Ronald’s full name was Ronald Harker Joseph Alfred Richard Hodgson-Paumier. He was an ex student at Bournemouth School where he was known as ‘Paumier’. He lived with his mother Charlotte Paumier at 2 Hosker Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth. Charlotte was an actress whose stage name was Lillian Paumier. Ronald’s father Alfred Gardner Pickhall Hodgson was also an experienced actor who changed his name by deed poll in 1915 to Hodgson-Paumier. Ronald is commemorated on the Bournemouth School WW1 Memorial.

Bournemouth School in Porchester Road 1917

At the outbreak of war Ronald was still only 17 however he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers and seconded for duty on November 27th 1915 when he was barely 18. Shortly afterwards he had to be invalided out of the army due to severe illness which required surgery.

14th Battalion London Scottish Regiment training.

When he recovered Ronald immediately enlisted again, this time in the London (Scottish) Regiment. He was sent to France to join the 1st Battallion on June 9th 1917 and quickly saw action as the Third Battle for Ypres (Passchendaele) began.

London Scottish marching into battle.

As part of the Battle of Ypres it is probable that Ronald took part in the battle for the village of Langemarck, which in August was held by the German Army.

Moving guns to Langemarck

The fighting conditions at Passchendaele (3rd Ypres) and Langemarck were very bad, after weeks of rain the mud was capable of swallowing men and equipment.

Trying to release animals trapped in the mud.

Men and animals make slow progress in the continuous rain.

By now the German Army are making increasingly sophisticated gas attacks.

A gray-green cloud of gas approaches the British trenches.

The Battle for Langemarck began on August 16th and ended on august 18th. Ronald Harker Joseph Alfred Richard Hodgson-Paumier died, probably of shell fire, on August 16th 1917, he was 21 years old, his war lasted a mere 68 days.

He is remembered at Bournemouth School on the Roll of Honour and also in ‘Tigs Boys’, the book by David Hilliam, which is an edited collection of the affectionate and poignant letters ‘old boys’ from the school wrote home to their headmaster ‘Tig’ from the WW1 trenches. 98 ex pupils from Bournemouth School died in the Great War.