Major-General Henry Hodgson

Depicts a portrait of Major-General Sir Henry Hodgson, DCMG, CB, CVO was an officer of the British Regular Army. He served at Gallipoli and commanded the Western Force in Egypt against the Senussi. In Feb 1917, he was given command of the Imperial Mounted Division, later the Australian Mounted Division. There was at the time a growing resentment at the promotion of English staff officers over Australians of equal or higher merit but Hodgson "if not an inspired soldier, was a sound leader along conventional lines, and possessed moreover a sympathetic and engaging personality which went far to make him acceptable to the light horsemen". (Gullett p 256). Chauvel (Melbourne Argus 12th Feb 1930) said that "his masterpiece was probably his skilful withdrawal of his own division and attached brigades from Es Salt during the second Trans-Jordan raid, when, owing to the defection of certain of our Arab allies and a determined counter-attack by the enemy, he was surrounded on three sides, and his line of retreat almost cut off in extremely difficult country. His coolness and determination on that occasion, coupled with the bravery of his troops, saved Australia very serious losses, and earned him the complete confidence of his troops".British Regular Army, Western Force, later known as Australian Mounted Division.