The Stories Behind the Stones

Albert Hudson was born on 26 November 1892 in Leeds, to Alfred and Elizabeth. Alfred worked as a brewers draughtsman, most likely at the Tetley brewery which was one of Leeds’ largest employers and nearby to their home. On the 1901 census, Elizabeth was a homemaker and the couple had five children aged between 17 and 1. On the 1911 census, an 18 year old Albert was working as a grocers assistant and the family were living at 74 Pemberton Terrace.

Albert attested to the 24^th battalion Canadian Infantry in October, 1914 in Montreal. I have found no evidence of him moving to Canada. On May 11^th, 1915 he sailed to England on the S.S Cameronia, on 19 September 1915 he sailed with his regiment from Folkestone to Bourlogne. During his 4 months in England, Albert was in the Canadian hospital at Moore Barracks for 10 days with tonsilitis.

Private Hudson spent the next year in France. On 9^th February, 1916, he attended a machine gun course in France, his regiment were to soon go to Mount Sorrell and the Somme. Shell shock is noted on his military records that on 29 July, 1916 he  attended the 4^th Canadian Field Ambulance, P.U.O (pyrexia of unknown origin) and sickness are noted on his records, a diagnosis of shell shock was made. By 17^th September, 1916. Private Hudson was fit for duty and left hospital to re- join the 24^th Canadian Infantry, which he did on 22 September. Hudson was now back on the Somme, although just 10 days after re-joining his battalion, he would not be so lucky.

On 2^nd October, Private Hudson would receive a gun shot wound to the head.

On the 10^th, he was admitted to hospital at Rouen and ten days later  to the 2^nd Western General Hospital in Manchester. An X-Ray showed 2 fragments of metal to the temporal region. Notes from 20^th October state a wound above the left ear was healing, there was no paralysis to the limbs or eyes, although Hudson’s memory was defective.

On 6^th December, 1916, Hudson was “dangerously ill,” an exploratory operation was carried out on the 12^th, a large cortical abscess was found and opened. The next few weeks would be mentally torturing for Hudson, his notes on 21^st January, 1917, state:

“marked cerebral compression and mental irritation. Wound opened and a quantity of pus evacuated from cerebral abscess. His mental condition did not improve and further quantities of pus were drained from the abscess. Large hernia cerebra developed.”

Private Albert Hudson died from his injuries on 28^th January, 1917, he is laid to rest at Hunslet Old, Leeds.