Corporal Thomas Henry HUDSON (1884-1916).
NZEF Service # 10/727; Corporal, Wellington Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Main Body, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).
Born 29 July 1884 - at Ceylon - (now Sri Lanka) - formerly British India. Ceylon was a British Colony from 1802 to 1948.
Thomas was the son of Richard & Ellen Hudson - of Marlow, Motueka, Nelson Region, South Island, New Zealand.
Thomas's father - Richard Phineas Hudson (1860-1953) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament - from December 1914 to 18 October 1928.
Richard P. Hudson had been born (1860) in Ireland. He served for 7 years with the British Artillery Militia before emigrating to (British ruled) Ceylon. At Ceylon he was a tea and coffee plantation owner for 23 years. In 1908 Richard, his wife Ellen and young son Thomas emigrated from Ceylon to New Zealand - where at Motueka, Nelson Region, Richard became a Fruit Grower. In 1914 he became a Member of the New Zealand Parliament - representing Motueka - where he remained until 1928. In 1930 Richard & Ellen Hudson returned to Ceylon - but they would later return to New Zealand where Richard died, at Wellington, in 1953.
Thomas Hudson was educated at Nelson College, Nelson City, South Island, New Zealand. He was at Nelson College from 1909 to 1910.
Prior to enlistment for war service Thomas Hudson was a Civil Servant - employed by the New Zealand Government - at the Lands & Surveys Department - at New Plymouth, Taranaki Region, North Island, New Zealand.
Thomas Hudson enlisted for war service - on 12 August 1914 - at New Plymouth, Taranaki. He was 20 years of age.
At enlistment Thomas Hudson was posted as a Corporal - with the Signals Section - of the Wellington Infantry Regiment, Main Body, NZEF.
On 16 October 1914 Corporal Hudson left New Zealand for overseas war service - with the Main Body NZEF - aboard HMNZ T10 'Arawa' - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.
Corporal Hudson disembarked from his transport ship from New Zealand - on 4 December 1914 - at Alexandria, Egypt.
In late April 1915 Corporal Hudson was sent, from Egypt, to serve with the ANZAC (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) forces - at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.
Corporal Hudson served at Gallipoli until 15 May 1915 - when he was admitted, sick with influenza, to the 4th (New Zealand) Field Ambulance - at Gallipoli.
Five days later - on 20 May 1915 - Corporal Hudson was medically evacuated, by sea aboard HS 'Sandringham', from Gallipoli to Malta.
At Malta - on 24 May 1915 - Private Hudson was admitted to the Mtarfa Hospital.
Two months later - on 28 July 1915 - Corporal Hudson re-joined his unit at Gallipoli.
Five weeks later - on 20 August 1915 - Corporal Hudson was admitted again, sick, to the 16th Casualty Clearing Station at Gallipoli. He was medically evacuated, by sea, to Mudros, Greece.
From Mudros Corporal Hudson was medically evacuated, by sea aboard HS 'Caledonia' - to England.
At England - on 1 September 1915 - Corporal Hudson was admitted to the 'Duchess of Connaught' Hospital - at Taplow, England.
The following year - on 18 May 1916 - Corporal Thomas H. Hudson died of sickness (pneumonia & heart failure) - at the No 2 New Zealand Military Hospital at Walton on Thames, England. He was 31 years of age.
Corporal Thomas H. Hudson is buried at Walton & Weybridge (Walton on Thames) Cemetery, Surrey, England (Grave ref: Wall 913).
Corporal Thomas H. Hudson is also remembered in his home country of New Zealand - on the Motueka War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Motueka, Tasman, Nelson Region, South Island, New Zealand.
For Corporal Thomas H. Hudson's full military record refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com
Photo Credit: Corporal Thomas H. Hudson : Nelson College Old Boys' Association; www.nelsoncollege.school.net
References (1) : Father: Richard Phineas Hudson (1860-1953) : Victoria University (Wellington) New Zealand; NZETC.
References (2) : Father: 'Richard Hudson - New Zealand Politician'; Wikipedia.com
References (3) : Death of Corporal Thomas H. Hudson at England : Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand); 'Evening Post'; Vol XCI; Issue 121; 23 May 1916.
Jenifer Everett