Charles Davy Hudson
He attended Nottingham Boys' High School.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
He was the son of Charles and Kathleen Annie Hudson and the brother of Kathleen Mary and Alice Maud Hudson. In 1921, they lived at 'Spencer House', Nuthall, Nottinghamshire. He and Rene Clay were married in 1935 and they had three children - Winifred, Kathleen and Anthony. In 1943 Rene and the children were living at Rosedene (now The Hawthorns) in Langar.
MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY II. F. 10. Tunisia
Charles was gazetted as a Lieutenant in 1942 and served with the Sherwood Foresters in the Desert Campaign in North Africa. By April 1943 the Allies were gaining the upper hand and had driven Rommel’s Afrika Corps back into Tunisia were the Germans tried to create a defensive line, in part using defenses previously created by the French. On 24 April the Sherwood Foresters attacked Point 174, a strongpoint on this defensive line located at Gueriat El Atach. After bitter fighting they gained a foothold and ejected the German defenders.
Before the Foresters could consolidate their position, the Germans counter-attacked with support from tanks including the dreaded Tiger, thought to be impregnable to the then available ammunition. Point 174 was equipped with an old, French field gun, which the Germans had used as part of their defense. The Foresters turned the gun around to face the Germans and fired towards the oncoming tanks. At the same time British Tanks were approaching and joined the battle. Amazingly, one Tiger tank was disabled by a shell causing the other German tanks to withdraw leaving their infantry unsupported. Continuing British fire caused these too to withdraw and the Foresters held their ground.
There was much debate as to whose shell had disabled the Tiger and the honour of capturing the prize was shared by the Foresters and the tank crews. The captured Tiger was returned to the UK for analysis and is now on display at the Tank Museum in Dorset.
It has not proved possible to find how and when Charles lost his life, so we cannot say if he was involved in the successful taking of Point 174 or the capture of the tank.
Initially buried in a grave on the battlefield, Charles was reinterred at Massicault War Cemetery, Borj-El-Amari, Tunisia in Grave II.F.10.
The above account is courtesy of Langar local historian Nigel Wood via Facebook
NB. 49 men (including Charles Hudson) from 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters were killed in Tunisia on April 24th 1943. A further 21, presumably wounded on 24th, from the unit lost their lives over the ensuing 7 days.
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Charles Davy Hudson
Photo: Courtesy of Langar historian Nigel Wood via Facebook