James Hudson
Date of birth: 1890
Date of death: 6.11.1917
Area: Wrenthorpe
Regiment: King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Family information: Husband of Emily Hudson nee Mellor and father of James and Joseph
Rank: Private
Service number: 17785
War Service
James enlisted in September 1914 and according to the medal rolls index card went to France on 11th September 1915, so was entitled to the 14/15 Star as well as the Victory and British War Medals. In 1917 he was serving as Private 17785 in the KOYLI 9th Battalion and on 6th November 1917 he was killed in action. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. His effects were left to his widow Emily for herself and children.
Wakefield Express December 8th 1917:
“Mrs Hudson of Bragg Lane End, Wrenthorpe has received official information that her husband James William Hudson of the KOYLI was killed in action on November 6th. Previous to enlisting he was employed at Lofthouse Colliery. He leaves a widow and two young children. He was 27 years of age and joined the colours on September 7th (?) 1914.”
On 16th December there was a memorial service for James together with Fred Leather, Albert Ogden, Albert White and Jack (John) Wright.
Family Life
James William Hudson was the son of James snr (a miner) and Annie Elizabeth Hudson. He was born in Cleckheaton in about 1890. In 1891 the family were living at Bishopgarth with James aged 1 and his older brother Tom aged 4. They must have moved later to Wrenthorpe as James was baptised at St Anne’s Wrenthorpe on 27th July 1892, together with his brothers Tom and Alfred Hollis who was born in 1892 (and registered as Alfred Horace so perhaps the Vicar misheard the name!). Sadly, I believe his mother died aged just 27 in 1897 and later that same year James snr married Zillah Pinder.
In 1901 the family were living at Brook’s Fold, Sunny Hill, next door to James Wild Firth who also died in the Great War. Only James and his step sister Gertrude aged 6 were living at home. I found that Alfred was living with Arthur and Sarah Speight at Bragg Lane End and in this census, he was called Horace and I could find no trace of Tom.
By 1911 James was working as a miner like his father and they were living at Bragg Lane End. He had another step sister Annie who had been born in about 1902. His brother Alfred was still living with the Speights but now in Morley and described as an ‘adopted son’. I believe Tom is boarding in Ardsley.
In 1912 James married Emily Mellor and they were blessed with two sons James and Joseph in 1913 and 1914 respectively.
Tyne Cot Memorial
