By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
The preserved collection of Art Hodge’s military medals, badges, and documents. —Submitted photos
JARVIS—At this time when we pay tribute to our Canadian veterans, there are two in particular that Carleen Rushton of Jarvis remembers – Vic and Art Hodge. They both served in WWII and they were her big brothers.
Rushton grew up in Port Elgin, Ontario, the second youngest of 15 children, while Vic and Art were the two oldest. With such an age difference, Rushton says she was too young to really know them well. In fact, she was not even born until after the war. As the years went by, they grew closer and she learned of their wartime experiences from stories shared amongst the family, stories that made a lasting impression.
Art Hodge
As a girl, Rushton recalls her friend’s mother describing “the Hodge boys” when they came home in their uniforms. She says, “She told me they were such sharp looking guys.”
Other stories revealed the harsh realities of war. The eldest brother, Vic, served as a paratrooper in France, Germany, Belgium, and Holland. On one particular jump, he landed in the Rhine River rather than on the roadway, the weight of his gear putting him in jeopardy. In relating Vic’s story, Rushton says, “He had two combat jumps in the war that helped keep our country free. I cannot even imagine the terror that must have gone through his mind as he jumped into enemy territory.”
Art had the same training and credentials as his brother but, according to Rushton, he did not go into battle as a paratrooper because the brothers were separated. She explains, “Only the originals were sent to fight the war. Others were trained as backup to the originals.” In other words, Vic was the ‘original’. Though he wasn’t sent in to fight, Art made significant contributions while based in the United Kingdom. Along with having all the training himself, Rushton says Art trained soldiers extensively, ensuring they were well prepared for what was to come.
Vic Hodge
Vic and Art returned from the war to work, get married, and have families of their own. Vic walked Rushton down the aisle at her wedding as their father had passed away and after moving to Jarvis, she had many visits with Art in Hamilton and later at Riviera Lodge in Caledonia. Both brothers have since passed away and are buried at cemeteries in Hamilton with the paratrooper chute in angel wings inscribed on Vic’s headstone and a poppy on Art’s.
Rushton’s respect for veterans led to her involvement with a Veterans Night, which was held for six years at the Wesley United Church in Jarvis. She describes the event as “a thank you night to the veterans who are here.” The evening would include a display of artifacts, dinner, and program, and she says, “The church was always full.”
More recently, Rushton has embarked on a project to collect and preserve the medals belonging to Vic in a shadow box type of display. Her nephew created a similar memorial for his father, Art, after he passed away. Another nephew assisted Rushton by taking Vic’s medals to an army base to be properly cleaned. Through this process, more details on Vic’s service in the war may have been revealed based on one of his medals.
Inspired by this new information, Rushton says that her nephews and nieces are “now on the trail” to get both Vic’s and Art’s war history. She is pleased that this is the start of the family learning more about the Hodge brothers’ stories.
This Remembrance Day, Rushton reminds everyone to “honour, respect, and remember them today and always.” As she fondly remembers Vic and Art, she says, “We owe our freedom to our soldiers. They paid for it and often with their lives. For this reason, I have much gratitude and I am honoured to be called their kid sister!”
