Mark Hudson

War Service

In March 1914 Mark, now a reservist in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry and living at 417, Castleford Road, Normanton, wrote to his Officer in Charge of Records informing them he was in the last six months of his army reserve service and seeking information about re-enlisting. Mark received instruction to attend the recruiting office in Pontefract where he joined the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Sergeant Mark Hudson was killed on 4 March 1917 whilst supervising road-making work with men of his battalion in France.
The following appeared in the Wakefield Express on 17 March 1917:
“NORMANTON SERGEANT KILLED IN FRANCE
It is with deepest regret that we record the passing of still another gallant Normanton soldier who, after going through two years of war, and especially through the terrible fighting of July and November “without a scratch” was accidentally killed the other day whilst at work road-making. This is Sergeant Mark Hudson of Norwood Street, Hopetown, who was amongst the first batch of Normanton men to join the Miner’s Battalion. He has seen considerable active service in Egypt, but for the past year or so has been on the Western Front. We understand that at the time he and other men were working on the roads, and the sergeant was killed by a bomb which was dropped during an aerial fight between our own and enemy machines. The sergeant who was 31 years of age leaves a widow and a little girl to mourn their loss. He formerly worked for Messrs. Pope and Pearson. He was home on leave a year ago.”
A week later the following appeared in the Wakefield Express on 24 March 1917:
“COMMANDING OFFICER’S TRIBUTE TO NORMANTON SERGEANT
KILLED WHILST SUPERINTENDING ROAD-MAKING
Last week we recorded the death of Sergeant Mark Hudson of Normanton who was killed whilst on active service with the Miner’s Battalion and we are able this week to give fuller details from a letter to his widow by the Officer commanding his Battalion. The letter states: “Yesterday afternoon, whilst superintending the work of making a road, he was killed with three others by a German anti-aircraft shell which fell in the road at the spot on which they were standing. It was a very sudden and terrible calamity, the whole four being killed outright. Please accept my sincerest sympathy, and that of the other officers and men of the company, and in fact I may say of the battalion (for he was so well known), in your great sorrow. He was one of our original N.C.O.’s and we feel his death very keenly. It will be difficult to replace him for he was known, liked and esteemed by so many. He was one of the most conscientious and keenest soldiers in the battalion and we grieve very much for his loss. He met his death in the service of his King and country, whom he had served so well, the thought of which I hope will help to comfort you and you must feel very proud of him.”
Sergeant Mark Hudson now rests in the Sailly-au-Bois Military Cemetery in France.
The Sailly-au-Bois Military Cemetery lies on the western edge of the village of Sailly-au-Bois, which is between Arras and Amiens. The cemetery contains 239 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.

Family Life

Mark was born in Whitney, Oxfordshire in 1885. Little is known of his childhood years, but at the age of 16 years Mark was employed as a weaver in a blanket mill in Oxfordshire.
On 24 July 1902 Mark, aged 17 years, enlisted as a Private in the Oxford and Bucks Regiment. Mark served as a regular solider with his regiment until returning home as a “reservist”.
On the 16 May 1910 Mark married Mary Newton at All Saints Parish Church, Normanton. At the time of their marriage Mark was employed in the woollen industry and he was living at 6, Walker Street, Cleckheaton, Dewsbury. Mary gave her address as 361, Castleford Road, Normanton although she was born in Altofts in 1881. Prior to their marriage Mary had been employed as a servant in the household of Mr & Mrs Gardner in Kirkstall, Leeds.
Mark and Mary lived in Maisebrook, Gomersal near Dewsbury where their first daughter Edna was born on 27 May 1911. Sometime later the family moved to live in Norwood Street, Hopetown, Normanton and Mark and Mary’s second daughter, Doris May, was born on 15 June 1913 in Normanton.