Hudson, L A
LEO AUSTIN HUDSON
Remembered with honour Tilloy British Cemetery: Plot XI, Row A, Grave 2.
He enlisted in Bedford 2 May 1916 for the Duration of the War: a cutterman at paper mill aged 29, 5’7″ tall, C of E, his next-of-kin his mother of Watford. He served at Home 2 May to 14 September 1916 when he embarked from Folkestone for France. He was wounded in action 26 November 1916 but rejoined his battalion 7 January 1917. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Son of Rebecca (nee TEMPLE) and the late Austin HUDSON.
His parents married 19 May 1883 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley, Herts. Austin died 1900 in Watford aged 42, and was buried 14 September in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. Rebecca remarried 5 September 1903 at St Mary’s, Watford, to Jesse PETTIFER. She died 1918 in Watford aged 65, and was buried 8 July, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Jesse died 1925 in the Watford district aged 78.
Leo was born 25 March 1887 in Bedmond, Herts, and baptised 6 November 1887 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley. He attended first Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School from 15 January 1894 to 25 May 1899. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, aged 4 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, an errand boy aged 14, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a machinist at paper mills aged 24, he still lived in Watford, with his mother, step-father and four siblings.
Service number
F/2940Rank
PrivateUnit
16th (Reserve) Battalion (Public Schools)Regiment
Place buried
Date of death
30/05/1917Age at death
31Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)