William Peter Hudson

Rank:	Corporal
Street:	Mill House, Great Water Street
Townland:
Town/Village:	Longford
Civil Parish:	Templemichael
Catholic Parish:	Templemichael
Country:
Alternative Address:	13 Church Street, Longford
Census 1901:	www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Longford_No__2_Urban/Church_Street/1555506/
Census 1911:
Regiment/Unit:	Connaught Rangers
Regiment Number:
Date of Death:
Cause:
Memorial:
Information:	William Hudson was born in Belturbet, Co. Cavan, c.19 December 1887; he was the son of John Hudson, a former RIC sergeant from Co. Antrim and his first wife Margaret Sheridan. Cpl Hudson had a long military career. After his initial 6 year service period Hudson joined the R.I.C., serving at Beechwood Station in Roscommon. On return to the colours, Hudson proved a valiant soldier gaining promotion to Lieutanant on the field as a result his bravery in the trenches during the Battle of Mons; he was, however taken prisoner in December 1914 at Ham, and remained a POW until May 1918; this resulted in his demotion. Hudson was initially one of 5000 British soldiers at Sennelager II before the Irish Catholic soldiers were removed to form another Lager at Limburg in December 1914, where he numbered about 1900 souls, and later to Giessen and Bohmte/Hameln 17. On the 17 August 1918, the Longford Leader published a first-hand account of Hudson's time in the camp, where he noted that "The first Expeditionary Force were the best ever that the sun shone on..." His letter noted events in the camp, such as the lecture given by Roger Casement and the attempt at forming an Irish Brigade as well as his personal reactions that lead him to being transferred to the "English" labour camp at Giessen; it also noted the heavy labour and starvation rations they received. William Hudson was one of a large number of brothers and sisters, including Robert who was a teacher at St. Michael's Schools in Longford and a founding member of the Longford Corps of the National Volunteers (LL 7 November 1914), and John D.C.M. who also served in the War (LL 16 February 1
Parents Names:	Son of John Hudson, and Margaret (née Sheridan); stepson of Hannah Hudson, Mill House, Great Water Street, Longford
Notes:	A Longford Leader article of the 3 October 1914 notes Hudson's bravery and his promotion to Lieutenant as a result of his bravery on the front; the article includes an image of Hudson in uniform at Malta, prior to the Great War. Cpl Hudson was one of a number of Longford prisoners at Gefangenen Lager/ Their chaplain Rev. Fr. Crotty (titled Irischer Kaplan) wrote the following to Bishop Hoare of Ardagh & Clonmacnois, which specifically mentioned Hudson. This was reproduced in the Longford Leader's War Notes on the 2 July 1915 under the subheadings: 'Longford Prisoners of War in Germany - Striking Testimony to the Religious Fervour of Irish Prisoners - The Good Catholic Soldiers'. After the release of Cpl Hudson and many of the other prisoners the the 7 May 1918, the Leader updated published an article on the 8 June 1918 titled, 'Out Of The Clutches Of The Huns - Corporal Hudson Passed From Germany To Holland - Graphic Description Of Prison Life In Germany"
Links:	Letter from Cpl Hudson to the Longford Leader on his time as a POW, August 1918 ; link to Civil Record of Birth;