Thomas Alfred Hudson

Thomas's birth was registered in the third quarter of 1882 and he was baptised on 11th October at Eccles, St Mary, Lancashire, the family home where he was born was; 179 Ellesmere Street, Patricroft, Lancashire, a suburb of Eccles, Manchester. Thomas's father, Jessie, worked as a Groom and Warehouseman, by 1901 Thomas had left school and was employed with his elder brother as a Carter. By 1911 his mother, Jane, had given birth to five children all serving to this date, Thomas had left home to join the army but was back home on reserve working again as a Carter.

On 10th November 1902 Thomas joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in Manchester, on this date he declared his age as 20 years and three months which places his birthday in August 1882. He was single and still working as a Carter, he was 5'4¾" tall, average height for the time, brown hair, grey eyes with a fresh complexion. Given the number 9257 he was posted to 2nd Battalion at that time based at Tidworth in Wiltshire, after service in South Africa during the second Boer War. Thomas had signed for the normal 12 years service, three with the colours followed by nine as a reservist. In 1904 he was awarded a good conduct badge and sucessfully completed a Mounted Infantry Course at Aldershot no doubt due to his previous experience as a Carter. On 12th February 1905 he was transferred to the Reserve, this transfer was was not due until November 1905 and other than it was conducted under King's Regs and with his agreement there is no explanation.

As a reservist Thomas was expected to complete a minimum number of training days per year plus summer camps, this involved drill sessions and time on the Rifle range where a standard test had to be achieved. During this period he returned to his job as a Carter and on 15th April 1911 he married Maggie Parker at Salford Parish Church, on 26th April 1914 the couple were blessed with a son, Thomas Alfred.

Following the outbreak of war 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers who were stationed at Dover were mobilised and on 5th August sent out joining instructions to their reservists, Thomas reported for duty on 7th August 1914 and commenced training at the Regimental Depot, Wellington Barracks in Hull, he was posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion on 7th November which was based at Withernsea as part of the Humber Garrison. On 4th December he was posted back to 2nd Battalion who had embarked to France on 22nd August, Thomas landed in France on 22nd November 1914.

During 1914 2nd Battalion had been engaged in the Battles of Le Cateau, Marne, Aisne and Messines, they were in need of reinforcements and at some point after a stay in an Infantry Base Depot (IBD) Thomas joined his unit in the field. A draft of 80 reinforcements joined the Battalion on 24th November, 108 on 13th December and 25 on 23rd December, all three were after the cut off date for the award of the 1914 Star which was replaced with the 1914-15 Star. By Christmas 1914 Thomas was in the trenches with his Company, at this time the Battalion were in Billets in the Le Bizet area and rotating between front line, support and reserve trenches. 

Le Bizet top left, map courtesy GWF

They entered the front line on Christmas Eve relieving 1st King's Own (Lancaster Regiment), the following day the whole Western Front was quiet.

On this first Christmas Day of the war an unofficial truce took place along the length of the Western Front, the trenches had been decorated and presents passed, chaplains conducted services, Princess Mary tins containing cigarettes, pipes, tobacco or sweets with a picture of the Princess and a card from the King and Queen were passed out. As the morning continued carols were sung by both sides and an invite extended by the Germans to join them in their trench, a few went but gradually the two sides met in No-man's land where cigarettes were swapped and even balls kicked about. Private Tom Watson, a pre-war Carter wrote to his former employers about the day, (this may have been where Thomas was employed).

Excerpt from the Boulton Journal 8th January 1915

The following day was quiet again but shooting resumed with one man being killed, Private 7590 E Wood who had been in France since 7th October 1914. The 2nd came out of the line on 28th December and the were engaged digging a new command trench due to flooding.

On 30th April 1915 Thomas entered the casualty chain with a foot injury which kept him away from his unit until 27th May, in this time 2nd Battalion had engaged in the 2nd Battle of Ypres (22 - 25.5.15). Thomas rejoined his unit in a draft of 139 other ranks, the Battalion was in the reserve line, the following day they relieved a Battalion of the Essex Regiment in the front line north of Irish Farm.

On 5th July 1915 the 2nd moved to Elverdinghe Wood near Pilkem where they bivoucked for the night, that day elements of the Rifle Brigade and Somerset Light Infantry had attacked a length of German line known as International trench, (shown on later British maps as Canal Alley) and had captured about 500 yards. 2nd Battalion's role was to help with the consolidation and defence of the line and fierce fighting continued until 11th July.

Map courtesy GWF

The attack on this trench system was designed to alleviate the situation on the north of the Ypres Salient and diversionary to disguise a British attack at Hooge. During the evening of 6th July 2nd Battalion relieved the Rifles and commenced work to repair and improve the parapets in readiness for counter attacks, the men worked all night. The 2nd then remained in the trenches until the evening of 9th July when they were relieved by a Battalion of York and Lancaster Regiment. In these few days the fighting had been severe but the Germans were repelled and the positions held, the casualties reflect the nature of the battle: killed - seven officers, 79 other ranks, wounded - 10 officers, 201 other ranks and 19 other ranks missing.

Thomas survived this battle but on 31st July he entered the casualty chain with a shoulder and knee injury, on 6th August he was transferred from 10 General Hospital at Rouen on hospital ship St Andrew to England. He was posted to 3rd Battalion and on 9th November 1915 he was discharged from the army as his 12 years service was complete plus an extra year which under King's Regulations at that time could be imposed in times of emergency.

In January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed which introduced conscription and removed the right of serving soldiers to leave the army on completion of their 12 year period. Thomas may have been conscripted back into the army but their is no record of such, returning to civilian life he died in 1928.