Francis Hodder
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Carrigaline, Ireland
Böchingen, Nazi Germany
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Francis Samuel Hodder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 February 1906 Carrigaline, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 6 September 1943 (aged 37) Böchingen, Nazi Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm (unknown style) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 20 March 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Francis Samuel Hodder (11 February 1906 – 6 September 1943) was an Irish first-class cricketer, rugby union player and Royal Air Force officer. Hodder served in the Royal Air Force from 1925 until his death in 1943 during the Second World War. During his athletic career, he played for the Royal Air Force cricket team and rugby union for London Irish.
The son of Samuel and Maud Hodder, he was born at Ringabella House in Carrigaline, Ireland.[1] He was educated in England at Forest Hill House School, where he played for the school cricket team.[1] On one occasion while playing for the school he scored a century and took all ten wickets.[1] After leaving Forest Hill, he took up employment with Midland Bank.[1] However, he became dissatisfied with his job, instead enlisting with the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer in 1925.[2][1] He was promoted to the rank of flying officer in January 1927.[3] Three years later he was promoted to the rank of flight lieutenant in November 1930.[4]
Hodder played first-class cricket for the Royal Air Force cricket team against the Army at The Oval in 1931.[5] Batting twice in the match, Hodder was ended the Royal Air Force first-innings unbeaten having scored a single run, while in their second-innings he remained unbeaten on 10.[6] With his right-arm bowling, he bowled a total of 28 overs across the match, conceding 69 runs and taking the wicket of Bill Leggatt.[6] He also played rugby union, playing for London Irish for ten seasons, as well as representing Kent in the County Championship.[1] He also trialled for Ireland, but was not successful in being selected to play.[1]
During the 1930s he served in Iraq and Aden, as well as passing a specialist engineering course.[1] He was promoted to the rank of squadron leader in February 1937.[7] He married Evelyn Margaret Bowden-Smith in early 1940, with the couple having two sons.[1]