Athol Hudson
Born 5 Mar 1894 - Died 14 Jul 1916
- Service number
- WWI 1/812 AWMM
- WWI 24/1547 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- WW1 Second Lieutenant AWMM New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion AWMM
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 5 Mar 1894 Military Personnel file
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- WW1 19 Aug 1914 AWMM Hadfield Hostel, Kelburn, Wellington AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW1 B. Hudson (mother) Mount Pleasant, Nelson AWMM
- WW1 Mrs B. Hudson (mother), The Port, Nelson, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- —
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
- Campaign
- Aug 1914 AWMM Capture of Samoa, WW1 AWMM
- 1914-1919 AWMM Western Front AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 1/812 AWMM
- WWI 24/1547 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- —
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW1 19 Aug 1914 AWMM
Age 20 AWMM
Student/Civilian AWMM - WW1 12 Jul 1915 AWMM
Age 21 AWMM
Student/Civilian AWMM
- WW1 19 Aug 1914 AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 08 Jan 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 38 or HMNZT 39 AWMM Lieutenant/Military AWMM 5th (Wellington) Regiment AWMM Samoan Advance Party AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW1 8 Jan 1916 AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
Second Lieutenant AWMM
New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Athol Hudson was the son of Dr. James and Beatrix Hudson, of Hartmoor, Tapawera, Nelson, New Zealand. Rhodes Scholar. B.Sc. (New Zealand).
"In the death of Lieut. Athol Hudson New Zealand has sustained an irreparable loss. Originally from Nelson, he was educated at Waitaki B.H.S., where he was one of the most popular and, for a time, the leading boy of the school. In 1912 he was Dux, as well as being the most prominent figure in all branches of the school's athletic life. All Waitakians and more especially his contemporaries, will feel his death deeply, but the depth of that feeling cannot reach the depth of their admiration and respect for their old schoolfellow. Until the outbreak of war he was at Victoria College, Wellington, where his success at study and his prowess at sport increased rather than diminished. While there he gained the New Zealand Long Distance Running Championship, the championship of the New Zealand Universities, and the University Light-Weight Boxing Championship. He was also a notable swimmer. On the outbreak of war he went with the advance guard to Samoa. On his return he gained New Zealand's highest scholastic distinction - the Rhodes Scholarship. Recieving a commission in his regiment, the Wellington Infantry, he came to France, where, during scouting operations on the night of July 24th between the lines, he went missing, and is reported "believed killed." (Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F. September 15, 1916, p. 32)
For information about the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, see: The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own) by Lieut.-Col. W.S. Austin. This publication records Atholl Hudson's date of death as 14 July 1916.
Four brothers served during World War I, Athol Hudson, Philip Hudson, Charles Hudson and William Hudson.
Attended Waitaki Boys' High School, Oamaru. AWMM - HUDSON, Lieutenant Athol - The manner in which the late Lieut Hudson of
Nelson, the Rhodes Scholar in France is related in a letter received by his
mother from Lieut Cyril M Rout. The writer says: "We were both in the same
battalion and as old Nelson boys and Waitaki schoolfellows, had a great deal
in common. I saw a fair amount of him in and out of the trenches. His loss
is felt by us all, as he was carrying out the important work of sniping and
intelligence officer. His keenness and energy in making a success of his
'job' as we call it, was recognised and appreciated by his commanding
officer, Lieutenant Colonel Austin. We who knew him best at times feared
for his safety, so great was his coolness and contempt of danger. His death
was instantaneous, so he therefore suffered no pain. He was endeavouring to
obtain all-important information for a raid we were making. To obtain this
he made his way with two of his own men through the long grass into the
German wire entanglements. He lay at full length gazing at the German
parapet so near at hand. With a whisper and a slight movement he handed the
glasses to his corporal alongside him, saying: "I can see three Germans
there." A few seconds later he was hit, no doubt by a sniper, death being,
as I stated, instantaneous. His two men endeavoured to bring in his body,
but had to abandon until nightfall the attempt, on account of the fire
opened on the small party. We mourn the loss of a brave man, and only hope
that if death should come to us we would be able to leave behind such a
record of duty and fearlessness as Athol did." [AWN 28.09.1916]Public - Jenifer - 13 July 2017 - Auckland Weekly News : 28 September 1916 : Internet source ref : Captain Cyril M. Rout of Nelson.
- Athol Hudson was the son of Dr. James and Beatrix Hudson, of Hartmoor, Tapawera, Nelson, New Zealand. Rhodes Scholar. B.Sc. (New Zealand).
About death
- Death
- 14 Jul 1916 AWMM
Age 22 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-d'Armentieres, Nord, France AWMM VI.I.20 AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Waitaki Boys' High School Roll of Honour WWI 1914-1918 AWMM
Related Serviceperson
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
http://www.cwgc.org
Sources Used - Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R7880206
Further Reference - Nelson Museum profile page
http://ww100.nelsonmuseum.co.nz/media/content/bios/Hudson%20Athol.pdf
Further Reference - "Our men and the front lines", Otago Daily Times, 2 December 2014.
https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/100-years-ago/our-men-and-front-lines
Further Reference
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- References
- Austin, W. (1924). The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own). Wellington, N.Z.: L T Watkins.
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
16: 6 - New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
Vol1. p.347 - McDonald, K. C. (1958). A history of Waitaki Boys’ High School, 1883-1958. Christchurch [N.Z.] : Whitcombe and Tombs.
The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.
Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.