Lieut Cuthbert Newton Hudson

Cuthbert Newton Hudson was born on the 21st August 1894 in Liverpool the son of the Rev. William Clark Hudson and his wife Mary Ann (nee Newton) who were married at St James' Church, Birkdale on the 26th April 1887. William was a 32 year old clerk in the Holy Order, residence Hanover Square, Bradford, father Peter, whilst Mary was aged 32 of The Gables, Birkdale, father John. Cuthbert was baptised on the 25th September 1894 at Christ Church, Kensington, his father a Clerk of the Holy Orders, 2 Elm Terrace, Fairfield. 

On the 1901 Census the family are living at 31 St Domingo Grove, Everton. His father, William Clark, is aged 46, a clergyman(Church of England) born in Liverpool, mother Mary Ann is aged 46 born Liverpool. Thye have four children in the household; Marian Bertha aged 11 born in Bradford, Dorothea 9 born in Liverpool, Hilda Mary Piell 7 born in Liverpool, and Cuthbert Newton 6 also born in Liverpool. They also have 2 servants; cook Elizabeth Jess 29, and housemaid Sarah Dobbins 25. 

By the time of the 1911 Census the family had moved to 69 Anfield Road. His father, William Clark is aged 66, a clergyman, mother Mary Ann is aged 56. They advise that they have been married for 23 years and have had 5 children). All of their children are in the household; William Newton is a 22 year old divinity student born in Bradford, Marian Bertha is aged 21, and an art student, Dorothea is 19 and a domestic economy student, Hilda Mary Piell is 17 and is at school, and Cuthbert Newton 16 at school. They still have 2 servants, Sarah Hogan 34, and Sarah Williams 23. 

Cuthbert enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on the 04th September 1914 as Private 17841 joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment giving his age as 20 years and 14 days, a clerk who was on a 6 year apprenticeship with Clark and Co, Liverpool, expiring in 1916. He was described as being 5' 9" tall, weight 130lbs, with a brown complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He stated that his religion was Church of England. He advised that he had served with the O.T.C. for 3 years.  

Cuthbert was killed in action on 29th March 1917, aged 22. 

The 2/5 Battalion War Diary at the time of his death shows:- 

Erquingham  

18-27 March 1917 - Specialists training. Remainder of Battalion providing working parties by night wiring and draining subsidiary line.  

22 March – Two Companies attended a lecture and demonstration of anti-gas shell precautions.  

28 March 10am - Took over sector of trenches from 2/9th KLR. Casualties 2 killed 1 wounded. 

Bois Grenier  

29 March - In trenches. Casualties 1 officer killed. 2nd Lt. C. N. Hudson. 1 OR killed, one wounded  

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 14th April 1917: 

Killed in Action. 

HUDSON March 29, killed in action, aged 22 years, Sec-lieut. Cuthbert Newton Hudson, King’s (Liverpool Regiment), the younger son of the Rev. and Mrs W. Clark Hudson. Memorial service at St Cuthbert's, Everton on Tuesday next at 7:30 p.m. 

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on 14th April 1917: 

SECOND LIEUTENANT C. N. HUDSON. 

Second-Lieut Cuthbert Newton Hudson, who has been killed in action, was the younger son of the Rev. and Mrs. W. Clark Hudson, St. Cuthbert’s Vicarage, Anfield, Liverpool, and was 22½ years of age. He was educated at the Middle and Upper Schools of the Liverpool College, and when the Officers’ Training Corps was started at the latter school he joined it with enthusiasm and attended three camps. After leaving school he entered the office of Messrs. Calliford Clark and Co,, ship brokers, Liverpool, and on the outbreak of war he was one of the first to enlist in the Liverpool “Pals.” He was soon promoted Lance Corporal. On November 10, 1914 he was gazetted second-lieutenant in another battalion. After preliminary training he was drafted to France where he remained for ten months, taking part in the battle of Loos. He then returned to England to train fresh drafts of officers, and had only being back at the front about two months when he was killed, on March 29, by a shell whilst proceeding along the trench to relieve an officer who had fallen sick. His captain wrote: “It was a great shock to us all as he was greatly liked by his brother officers and the men, and I personally feel his loss as he has always been in my company since rejoining, and he was always so keen in all the work he had to do, and looked after the comfort of the men in his Platoon as well.” A memorial service has been arranged for Tuesday next at 7:30 pm at St Cuthbert's Church, Everton, to which all friends are invited. 

Cuthbert now rests at Ration Farm Military Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD

For much of the war, Ration Farm was just over 1 kilometre behind the front line at the end of a communication trench. The first cemetery, Ration Farm Old Military Cemetery, was begun in February 1915, close beside the farm buildings. It was used until October 1915 chiefly by units of the 6th Division and at the Armistice it contained 73 graves. In April 1923, these graves were moved into Plot VI of the present cemetery, at the request of the French authorities. The present cemetery was begun (as Ration Farm New Military Cemetery) in October 1915 and remained in use until October 1918. It was very greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated sites and small cemeteries on the battlefield, including:- CHAPEL FARM CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX, which was 2 kms West of Bois Grenier. It contained 11 British graves of 1915 and 1916. FERME-DU-BIEZ MILITARY CEMETERY, La Chapelle D'Armentieres, which was 2 kms South East of that village. It contained 36 British graves of 1915 and 1918. For the most part, Plots I to V contain the original burials. Among the isolated graves brought in were many of Australian soldiers who died in the Attack at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. There are now 1,313 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 677 of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to six casualties know or believed to be buried among them. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Probate 1918:- 

HUDSON Cuthbert Newton of 69 Anfield Road Liverpool second lieutenant 5th Battalion the King's Liverpool Regiment died 29 March 1917 in France Administration Liverpool 28 March to the Reverend William Clark Hudson clerk. Effects £127 17s 3d. 

Soldiers Effects to father William Clark but the pension record shows no award. 

In 1921 his father decided to visit his son’s grave and wrote to the authorities for directions. The reply was as follows:

Imperial War Graves Commission  

05th August 1921  

Sir, 

In reply to your communication of the 28th ultimo I am directed to inform you that the grave of Second Lieutenant C. N. Hudson is Plot 5 Row A Grave 6 in Ration Farm New Military Cemetery. I am to add that the cemetery is one and a half miles south of Armentieres which is the nearest railway station, and the best route would be via Calais. 

The family have a photo of his forlorn father beside the tended grave that has a wooden cross bearing his name. 

His father remains on the Electoral Roll at 69 Anfield Road until 1928-29. 

The Lancashire Evening Post 28th June 1934 records the birth of a son to Cuthbert's brother William: 

Former Ashton Vicar’s Son.  

A son has been born to the Rev. and Mrs. W. Newton Hudson at Brussels. Mr. Hudson, who from 1922 to 1930 was vicar of Ashton, was married while at Preston, and was appointed British chaplain at Christ Church, Brussels in 1930. His daughter, now aged 5 years, was born at Ashton Vicarage. The boy will receive the names David Cuthbert Newton. 

Cuthbert's mother died, aged 81, on the 08th March 1936. 

Probate:- 

HUDSON Mary Anne of 18 Harlech Road Blundell Sands Lancashire (wife of the Reverend William Clark Hudson) died 8 March 1936 Probate Liverpool 25 May to the Reverend William Newton Hudson clerk. Effects £3341 9s 11d. 

His father died, aged 85, on the 2nd January 1940 (from death cert.) whilst a resident of the Shaftesbury House Mental Hospital, Formby. His net personality £3752. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 05th January 1940: 

HUDSON— January 1, at a nursing home, Rev. WILLIAM CLARK HUDSON, late vicar of St. Cuthbert’s, Everton. Interment at St. Luke's Church, Crosby, today (Friday), at 2 p.m. (Flowers to John Waugh and Sons. Ltd., Scotland Road, Liverpool.) 

The London Gazette of 01st May 1943 records that his brother, William, was granted a commission in WWII: 

ROYAL ARMY CHAPLAINS’ SERVICE 

The undermentioned are granted emergency commissions as Chaplains to the Forces Class 4(C. Of E.) 

(266832) Rev. William Newton Hudson, M.A. 

Grateful thanks are extended to Nick Capey for permission to use the photograph of Cuthbert now shown on the website

We currently have no further information on Cuthbert Newton Hudson, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.