In 1911 Herbert was 16, he was born in Stamford in 1895. He was the second son of John and Alice Hodgett . He was employed as an engineer moulder in a company manufacturing oil engines. In 1911 & 1901 the family was living at 20 St George’s Street, Stamford.His elder brother Arthur and younger brother George both saw Army service during World War One.

Military records for Herbert have not been found . An ‘H. Hodgett’ is listed in ‘Stamford and the Great War’ as a member of H.M. Forces at the outbreak of war serving as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery.

In 1917 Herbert married Thurza Balaam in Euston, Suffolk. Their two daughters were born in 1922 and 1929 in Stamford.