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Cenotaph record

Athol Hudson

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Lay a poppy
Portrait, Auckland Weekly News 1916 - No known copyright restrictions

Portrait, Auckland Weekly News 1916 - No known copyright restrictions

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Athol AWMM
  • Surname
    Hudson AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWI 1/812 AWMM
    • WWI 24/1547 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Anglican, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    5 March 1894 Military Personnel file Nelson, Tasman Military Personnel file
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW1 19 August 1914 AWMM Hadfield Hostel, Kelburn, Wellington AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW1 B. Hudson (mother) Mount Pleasant, Nelson AWMM
    • WW1 Mrs B. Hudson (mother), The Port, Nelson, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    • Aug 1914 AWMM
      Capture of Samoa, WW1 AWMM
    • 1914-1919 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

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • 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. 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.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    14 July 1916 AWMM
    Age 22 AWMM
    Somme, Northern France 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
    • Remembered on the Memorial at Tapawera and in the Nelson College Scriptorium Public - Peter - Researcher - 25 April 2018 - on site
    • Remembered on Waitaki Boys High School Memorial Public - SHONA - Researcher - 30 August 2018 - WBHS Memorial
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Athol Hudson by laying a poppy.

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Leave a tribute or memory of Athol Hudson

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  • I didn't know him or his family personally but I could tell from reading about him that he was a great person who cared about his country enough to help protect it. You will never be forgotten.
    Public - Pearl - Researcher - 3 May 2020
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  • From what I have read, he was a wonderful person. Then I researched his friend, Cyril Malcom Rout and there was only one poppy. I added one, so now there is two. Please, all who read this, add a poppy to both Athol and Cyril's pages. They both deserve it, and so do many other soldiers without them.
    Public - Charlotte - Researcher - 23 March 2018
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  • Athol was my grandfather William's brother, who also fought in WW1. I was brought up with Athol as a role model, and I was lucky enough to win a Rhodes scholarship. In going to Oxford I felt that I was able to complete something that Athol never did. I am very proud to have a relative who made such an extraordinary sacrifice. We still have the binoculars he was carrying when he was killed in no mans land. Angus Taylor
    Public - Angus James - Other relative - 22 November 2015
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  • Athol Hudson's name is listed on the WW1 memorial window at the All Saints' Church in Nelson. He will be remembered at the special Anzac Service on 26/4/2015.
    Public - Karel Anne - Researcher - 19 April 2015
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  • Athol was the younger brother of my Grandmother, Effie Hudson. Our family has never forgotten you Athol - the sacrifice you made at such a young age and my sister has visited your grave in France. We love you and remember you always.
    Public - Philippa Jane - Other Relative - 8 April 2015
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  • Dear Athol Hudson, You sound like you were such a fine young man who's life was taken away through a tragic war; your legacy still lives on and so too does the fine effort that you made towards our country and the greater good of the world. It seems to be that far too many lives were lost; I am only on the verge of imagining what I would have been like to be there. But all the same I thank you, not only from me but from all those who also do and see the sacrifice you have made. Thank you. Sincerely yours, Miss SA M
    Public - Sheena Alice - Researcher - 23 February 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
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03 May 2020PearlAucklandResearcher
30 August 2018SHONAOamaruResearcher
25 April 2018PeterNelson, New ZealandResearcher
23 March 2018CharlotteAuckland, New ZealandResearcher
13 July 2017Jenifer WairarapaOther

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