Harry Hodgman was born at Brighton, Tasmania on 12 August 1891 to parents Thomas and Robina Hodgman. Prior to the war his military experience came from his years with the Derwent Garrison in Tasmania.

A salesman by trade, Hodgman enlisted in Melbourne on 17 August 1914 and was assigned to the 5th Infantry Battalion. On 21 October 1914, Hodgman departed Melbourne aboard HMAT Orvieto. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on the day of the landing of 25 April 1915. According to an account by Lieutenant George Howard Earp (then a private), Hodgman was killed whilst participating in one of the last advances from the beach at ANZAC Cove. He had been shot through the head by a sniper along with 610 Private Reginald Clive Brownell at around 4.30pm. He was 23 years old. Hodgman is buried at Lone Pine Cemetery,Turkey.

The Hodgman family was to suffer the loss of two more sons. Harry's brother 4325 Corporal Alan Gunn Hodgman of the 52nd Infantry Battalion was killed on 7 June 1917 at the battle of Messines in Belgium. His brother, 4923 Lance Corporal Frank Rule Hodgman, served with the 52nd Infantry Battalion and was discharged and sent back to Australia due to a head wound sustained at Mouquet Farm. A mariner by trade, after returning to Australia on 4 May 1917 he resumed his naval career. Frank Hodgman was the captain of the transport ship Southern Cross that was lost in 1920 off the coast off King Island, Tasmania.