John HUDSON

07 January 1916

BRADLEY MAN WOUNDED

News was received last week by Mrs. Hudson, Pear Tree Terrace, that her son, Pte. John Hudson, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, had been wounded. He, along with four other Bradley lads, enlisted soon after the commencement of the war, and has been in France about four months. One of the lads, writing home, says they will never forget the morning of December 9th, Sunday, when just at dawn the Germans started shelling their trenches, sending asphyxiating gas which drove them back, and it was then that Hudson received shrapnel wounds in his hips and shoulder, and also suffered from gas poison. He is now in hospital at Woolwich and is progressing favourably, and hopes to get leave to visit his home before long.

11 August 1916

TWO BRADLEY LADS WOUNDED

Private John Hudson, of the 10th West Riding Regiment, son of Mrs. Hudson, of 5, Pear Tree Terrace, Bradley, has been wounded in action, and is now in hospital at Rouen, France. Writing to his mother on the 1st inst., he says, “You will be glad to hear that I am out of the big push for a little while again, although I don’t think I shall get to ‘Blighty’ with it. I was slightly wounded in the right arm early on Sunday morning in a little bomb strafe near Contalmaison which village our brigade took and held about three weeks ago. You can rest assured that I am safe from all further harm for some considerable time,” This is the second time Private Hudson has been wounded. The last time was on December 19th.

01 June 1917

HUDSON – May 22nd 1917, killed in action in France, Sergeant John Hudson, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, youngest son of Mrs. Hudson, Pear Tree Terrace, Bradley, aged 22 years.

01 June 1917

ANOTHER BRADLEY SOLDIER KILLED – One of the Five

News was received on Wednesday morning by Mrs. Hudson, of Pear Tree Terrace, that her youngest son, Sergeant John Hudson, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, was killed in action on May 22nd.

Sergeant Hudson was one of the five Bradley lads who enlisted at the commencement of the war, and went to France in July 1915. He was wounded in the hip and shoulder on December 19th the same year. In July 1916, he was wounded in the arm and was in hospital eight weeks. He had just got back into the fighting line when he had his equipment blown away without any injury to himself, and had to take the clothes off a dead gunner. He was mentioned in despatches in July and October 1916, and again in April this year. He was 22 years of age and an old scholar of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School. Prior to enlistment he was employed by Mr. T. Chapman, builder, Skipton. The deepest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Hudson and family. The following letter was received by Mrs. Hudson from Geo. Drake, one of the five lads mentioned above:–

May 24th, 1917.

“Dear Mrs. Hudson, – It is my painful duty to inform you that your son was killed on the 22nd, along with another six, by an enemy shell which fell in the midst of them. I can assure you that he suffered no pain whatever, his death being instantaneous. He was buried the same night, along with his comrades, in a cemetery halfway between Ypres and the line. In the course of a few days a cross will mark the place. He was a good pal and everyone in the Company liked him; he did his duty nobly and was a brave soldier. It was about five o’clock when he was killed. Had he lived a few more hours he would have gone out of the trenches the same night to seek billets for the battalion.

“Jack Hargreaves, who comes from Farnhill, was one of the party who buried him. He told me they were buried decently, and a parson read the Burial Service. All the Company and the non-commissioned officers and men join in tendering you their deepest sympathy in your sad loss. He was my best pal, and I was nearly heartbroken when I heard about it. You have my deepest sympathy, but he has died in fighting for the freedom of Old England and the banishing of Prussianism. We are out of the trenches at present.

“Jack’s old pal, GEORGE DRAKE.”

08 June 1917

BRADLEY – Memorial Service

On Sunday afternoon, at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, a memorial service was held in memory of Sergeant John Hudson, whose death was reported in last week’s issue. The service was conducted by Mr. W.J. Mitchell and Mr. John Gill. Two solos – ‘Jesu Lover’ and ‘Rock of Ages’ – were sung by Misses Hilda Benny and Maggie Chapman.

17 May 1918

HUDSON – In affectionate remembrance of our dear pal, Sergeant Jack Hudson, killed in action, May 23rd, 1917.

His gallant life, how stored it was
With bright hopes unfulfilled.

John and George in France and Italy.

HUDSON – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Sergeant Jack Hudson, who was killed in action, May 23rd, 1917.

His did his part with a willing heart,
And the rest we leave to God.

From Mother, Sisters and Brothers, 5, Pear Tree Terrace, Bradley.

23 May 1919

HUDSON – In ever loving memory of our dear pal, Sergt. Jack Hudson, 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regt., killed in action at Ypres, May 22nd, 1917.

“Amongst the first he answered duty’s call,
And he with others, saved the country’s fall.”

From his old Pals, George, John and Fred.

28 May 1920

HUDSON – In loving memory of our dear pal, Sergeant John Hudson, killed in action May 22nd, 1917.

Ever remembered by his pals, George, John and Fred.