John Hudson (D.C.M., M.C.)

Rank:	Captain
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:	Resident at Church Street Longford www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Longford_No__2_Urban/Church_Street/1555506/
Census 1911:
Regiment/Unit:	Connaught Rangers, 5th Battalion; [Irish Guards]
Regiment Number:	5/3010 ;
Date of Death:
Cause:	Survived WW1
Memorial:
Information:	John Hudson was born in c.1888, and his family had moved to Great Water Street in Longford by 1901. Captain Hudson had a long military career, having served in Second Boer War, where he had received his first Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) in October 1902, whilst serving in Africa. The Ranger, has an account of his time with the West African Expeditionary Force, (page 23 & 24 of this PDF copy) He received his second DCM in 1916, when the then Regimental Sergeant Major displayed conspicuous gallantry "at Sari Bair the Gallipoli Peninsula, on 10th and 11th August 1915, when he no less than three times volunteered for and carried through minor operations although exposed to a severe cross fire. In 1918, Hudson's bravery was again recognised by the award of the Military Cross. John was the brother of Cpl William Hudson, who was taken Prisoner of War after the Battle of Mons, and spent time in a number of German prison camps including Limburg. His brother 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)
Parents Names:	Son of John Hudson Mill House, Great Water Street, Longford
Notes:	It is believed that John's mother may have been Margaret Sheridan and Mrs Hannah Hudson his stepmother, but it is not certain.
Links:	Piece in the Longford Leader in February 1918 on Hudson's D.C.M, "A Gallant Soldier"; link to The Ranger, book, with info on Hudson; Connaught Rangers Assoc Newsletter 2004;