Before Action: The Short, But Brilliant Life of Poet Lt. William Noel Hodgson

Join host Chris Mowery for a journey through the remarkable—and heartbreakingly brief—life of Lieutenant William Noel Hodgson. Nicknamed “Smiler” at school and praised for both athletic prowess and poetic talent, Hodgson left Oxford’s cloisters in 1914 to fight with the 9th Devonshire Regiment. From his baptism of fire at Loos to months of trench‑side writing beneath Mansell Copse, the episode traces how war reshaped his verse and spirit. At the center lies Hodgson’s haunting final poem, “Before Action,” published just two days before he fell on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Somme. Through vivid storytelling, original readings, and reflective commentary—delivered without sound effects or music—you’ll discover how one young man’s prayer for courage became an enduring voice of the Great War. Whether you’re new to WWI history or a seasoned listener, this episode brings the soldier‑poet’s legacy to life with clarity, empathy, and conversational warmth.