William John Hudson
1914 - hosiery machinist
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William John, known as John, was the son of William Thomas Wall and Annie Sarah Hudson (née Sworder).
His father, William Thomas Wall, was born in Nottingham in April 1867. His mother Annie Sarah was born in Islington, London, in December 1871 (bap. Islington St Mary, January 1872), the eldest child of Thomas Sworder, a beer retailer, and his wife Annie. The family had moved from London to Nottingham by 1881 when they were living at 3 Ambergate Terrace; Thomas Sworder was now working as a railway porter. The family was still living at the same address in 1891; Annie was working as a lace hand.
William and Annie were married in 1896 and had five children who were all born in Nottingham: Thomas Arthur k/a Arthur (b. 1897), William John (b. 1898 JAS), twins Doris May and Frank Charles (b. 1902) and Reginald G Wall (b. 1912).
The couple and their two sons, Arthur and John, were living at 35 Woodhouse Street, Sneinton, but had moved to 23 Mafeking Street, Sneinton, by 1911: William Thomas, a newspaper librarian (T Bailey Forman), his wife Annie and their four children, Thomas Arthur (14) an errand boy (employer, dentist), William John (12), Doris May (9) and Frank Charles (9).
William and Annie were still living at 23 Mafeking Street when John was killed in August 1915.
John's father completed a form for the Army in November 1920 listing his late son's surviving blood relatives: parents William Thomas Wall and Annie Sarah, sons Thomas William (24), Frank Charles (18) and Reginald (8), and daughter Doris May (18), all of 55 Lees Hill Street, Sneinton.
John's parents and their four surviving children were recorded on the census the following year at 55 Lees Hill Street. The youngest son, Reginald, was school age, Arthur was a dental mechanic for a dentist in Long Eaton, while their two siblings, Frank and Doris, were, like their father, employed by T Bailey Forman (premises Sherwood Street). Frank was a newspaper publisher's assistant but the census entry for Doris's occupation is illegible.
William, a newspaper clerk, and Annie were living at 49 Trent Boulevard, West Bridgford, when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Both died in October 1942 within two days of each other and were buried together at Wilford Hill Cemetery. The eldest son, Thomas Arthur, dental mechanic, was awarded administration of William's Will.
Thomas Arthur married Helena Constance Bulling in 1921 (OND); he died in December 1963. Doris May married Samuel C [Charles] Allock in 1925 (registration 'Dorothy May'); she died in 1982. Frank Charles married Edna Challands at Sneinton St Christopher in August 1928; he died in 1978. Reginald married Doris Woodward in 1937; he died in 1971.
Private William John Hudson gave his first name as John when he enlisted.
John attested in Nottingham on 11 May 1914 on a Territorial Force engagement (4 years service UK) and was posted to the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). He gave his age as 17y 1m (ie. b. abt. 1897) although his birth was registered in 1898 (JAS). John was living at 23 Mafeking Street, Colwick Road, and employed as a hosiery machinist (J&B Morley). He named his father, of the same address, as his next of kin.
John served at home from 11 May 1914 and then with the BEF France from 25 June 1915. He transferred from the 7th Battalion to 1/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, joining 'A' Company. The month of his posting to the 1/7th Battalion is unclear on his service record but he transferred on the 26th of the month in 1915, so it may have been the day following his arrival in theatre.
John was killed in action on 27 August 1915 when a shell exploded near him while manning a trench. The incident was confirmed in the entry in the Robin Hoods' War Diary of the same date in which, unusually for a private soldier, Private Hudson was mentioned by name.
He was buried in Hedge Row Trench Cemetery, Belgium (Sp. Mem. C.4).
Service record. Home: 11 May 1914-24 June 1915, 1y 45d. France 25 June 1915-27 August 1915, 64d.
John qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC history of Hedge Row Trench Cemetery (extract): the Cemetery is 4km from the town or Ieper [Ypres]. 'Hedge Row Trench Cemetery was begun in March 1915 and used until August 1917, sometimes under the name of Ravine Wood Cemetery. The cemetery suffered very severely from shell fire, and after the Armistice the positions of the individual graves could not be found or reconstructed. The headstones are therefore arranged symmetrically round the Cross of Sacrifice.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Their glory shall not be blotted out' (KJV Ecclesiasticus 44:13)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 28 August 1916: ‘Hudson. In loving memory of Pte. John Hudson, 1/7th Robin Hoods, 23, Mafeking-street, killed in action August 27th, 1915. God be with him till we meet again. Loving mother, father, sister, and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 28 August 1917: ‘Hudson. Private John, of 23, Mafeking-street, killed in action at Hooge, August 27th, 1915. Loved by all and ever in our thoughts. Mother, father, brothers and sister.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27August 1918: ‘Hudson. In loving memory of Pte. Jack Hudson, Sherwoods, 55 Leeshill-street, killed in action August 27th, 1915. For ever with the Lord. Loving mother, dad, brothers, sister and grandparents.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Also ‘In Memoriam’ notice, 27 August 1919, from parents and siblings.
John's personal effects comprising a pocket book and correspondence, were returned to his father.
Nottingham Evening Post, 9 October 1943, had a short item on the death of William W Hudson, who had retired the previous year as librarian with the ‘Nottingham Guardian’ and the ‘Evening Post’. The report mentioned that ‘in his early days he served in the Royal Marines'. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 10 October 1942 (extract): ‘Double Funeral at West Bridgford. The double funeral of Mr and Mrs Wm W Hudson of 49, Trent-boulevard, West Bridgford, who died within 30 hours of each other, took place at Wilford Hill Cemetery to-day. The remains were buried in the same grave. Mr Hudson, who was 76 years of age, was in the service of the ‘Nottingham Guardian; and ‘Nottingham Evening Post; for a period of over 45 years. He died on Thursday evening, and his wife, who was six years his junior, died in the Nottingham General Hospital the previous afternoon. The service at the grave side was conducted by the vicar of St Philip’s Church, the Rev. J Goulton. The family mourners included: Mr and Mrs Arthur Hudson, Mr and Mrs Reginald Hudson, Mr and Mrs Frank Hudson (sons and daughters-in-law), Mrs Alcock (daughter)' the mourners also included members of the Sworder family and representatives of the Forman-Hardy company.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Family notices in the Nottingham Evening Post, 9 October to parents. From ‘Arthur, Frank, Dolly [Doris] and Reginald’ and spouses ‘Lena [Helena m. Arthur], Charlie [Allcock m. Doris], Edna [m. Frank] and Doris [m. Reginald].'
Additional research and information Peter Gillings. Additional research/record updated RF (Jan. 2026)
William John Hudson
Nottingham Evening Post, 23 September 1915. Source: Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Photo of William John Hudson
Buried in Hedge Row Trench Cemetery, Belgium (www.cwgc.org)