Hudson, Patrick
Lance Corporal
No. 17900, ‘A’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action in France on Saturday 1 July 1916 (aged 21)
Buried:
Serre Road Cemetery No. 1, France (Grave II. BB. 15)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Holywood and District War Memorial
Holywood Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Philip & St James)
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Hodson.
Patrick Hudson was born on 30 March 1895 in Hill Street, Holywood and in civil birth registration records his name is recorded as Patrick Armstrong and he is described as a son of Lizzie Armstrong, a charwoman.
William and Eliza (Lizzie) Hudson (nee Armstrong) were married on 26 August 1891 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church Belfast. William Hudson was a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and a son of William Hudson, a labourer. He was stationed at Victoria Barracks, Belfast. Lizzie Armstrong of 40 Great Victoria Street, Belfast was a daughter of James Armstrong, a sailor.
William and Eliza (Lizzie) Hudson (nee Armstrong) had a daughter, Margaret Armstrong Hudson (Maggie) who was born on 23 August 1892 in Bath Terrace, Holywood).
Patrick Armstrong was born on 30 March 1895 in Hill Street, Holywood and he subsequently used the surname Hudson.
Emily Hudson was born on 17 September 1898 in Strand Street, Holywood and she died of debility on 21 September 1898. In civil birth registration records she is described as a daughter of William and Elizabeth Hudson (nee Armstrong). William Hudson of 13 Smith Street, Birmingham worked as a lamp-maker.
According to census records, Elizabeth Hudson was widowed before 1901.
Elizabeth, Maggie and Patrick Hudson lived with Eliza’s parents, James (a fisherman) and Mary Armstrong at 17 Strand Street, Holywood. Later they moved to 4 Killip’s Court, Holywood. James Armstrong died of cardiac failure on 30 September 1905 at Strand Street (aged 74) and his daughter, Lizzie Hudson, was with him when he died.
Patrick Hudson enlisted in Holywood and he served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Lance Corporal Patrick Hudson (No. 17900) was 21 when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and he was buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 1, France.
Margaret Hudson and John Gray were married on 8 February 1915 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church Belfast. Margaret Hudson (aged 21) from 25 Glentilt Street, Belfast was a daughter of William Hudson, a soldier. John Gray (aged 21), a labourer from 51 Lyle Street, Belfast was a son of Charles Gray, a labourer.
In the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects Margaret Gray is referred to as Patrick Hudson’s half-sister.
Patrick Hudson’s mother, Elizabeth, died of oesophageal cancer in Killop’s Place on 14 July 1917 (aged 47). She was described as the widow of Private William Hudson, Rifle Brigade.
Lance Corporal Patrick Hudson (No. 17900) is commemorated on Holywood and District War Memorial and on the Memorial Plaque in Holywood Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Philip & St James).