John Hudson

Biography

The New Year of 1941 dawned as Hitler’s bombing blitz continued to devastate the country. By May, when Hitler had a change of strategy and tactics, hundreds of thousands of homes had been destroyed and tens of thousands of civilians had been killed.

German submarines continued to sink British merchant ships with impunity. Britain relied heavily on goods brought from abroad and the desperate situation meant that by May the country only had remaining six weeks of food supplies. There was better news from Africa where Commonwealth and Empire troops had taken countries occupied by the Italians. This was never more so than in Libya where, after the early success of the 4th Indian and 7th Armoured (Desert Rats) Divisions, British and Australian troops captured such places as Benghazi and Tobruk on the 22nd January. These events prompted Hitler to send Rommel and his Afrika Corps to support the Italians. This resulted in the loss of many gains and the surrounding of Tobruk, to which siege had been laid for 240 days from 11th April to 10th December. One of the units defending Tobruk, for part of this time, was the 4th Battalion The Border Regiment.

John Hudson, known as Jack or Jackie, was born on the 19th August 1920. His parents were John Newton Hudson and Laura Maud (née Wilson). John Newton worked on the railways, as had his father Robert before him. John or Jackie was the eldest of five children — a brother Roy Newton, and three sisters Doreen Mary, Barbara Vera and Joan. The family lived at 4 Bolefoot, later moving to 11 Natland Terrace, and possibly around the beginning of the Second World War John Newton and Laura Maud moved to 2 Fair Hope Avenue, Skerton, Lancashire.

John was baptised in St Mark’s Church on the 26th September 1920, attended St Mark’s School along with John Ellison, both of whom also sang in the church choir. He was also confirmed. He grew to 5 feet 9 inches in height and weighed a little over 10 stone. John had grey eyes, fair hair and a fresh complexion. On leaving school he obtained work with K-Shoes. His job was described as a boot-shoe operative.

Service Record

On the 28th April 1939, John enlisted, as did many other young lads, in the local territorial army regiment — the fourth battalion of the Border Regiment. At the outbreak of war he was called to the colours, and in a little over a week was promoted to Lance Corporal. John was sent to France, with the battalion, on the 17th November 1939. He was granted leave at the end of April 1940, but will have returned to France the day after the German invasion began.

It is popularly thought that all British troops were evacuated from Dunkirk. However, after this event there were still two British divisions fighting in France, one of them the 51st Division, with its back to the sea, eventually surrendering. The 4th Battalion of the Border Regiment fought a battle in the woods at Incheville, near Dieppe on the 24th May. Their opponents were Erwin Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division. Many of the men lost here were from Kendal, prompting a newspaper headline: “The Town of Missing Men.” The battalion withdrew to Le Havre from where they sailed to Cherbourg. From here they travelled by rail to Brest and then by boat to Southampton.

John or Jackie was then based in England until the 18th March 1941 when the battalion was sent to the Middle East by troopship. Their initial role was the unhappy one of fighting the Vichy French in Syria. In October of the same year the 4th Battalion were despatched to Tobruk. As the seaside Libyan town was under siege and thus surrounded by Axis forces, John and his comrades were ferried in by destroyer.

How They Died

John was wounded in action just six days before the siege was lifted, and subsequently died on the 4th December 1941. His family received his medals — the War Medal, the 1939-45 Star and the Africa Star.

Where They Rest

He is buried in the Tobruk War Cemetery, which is currently in need of care having been severely damaged by militants. The name of John Hudson is also recorded on the Natland War Memorial.