HUDSON Aubrey Wells

His brother Arthur Cyril Hudson also fell.

Worcesters. Brother of above. 1915. [Arthur Cyril Hudson is on Pershore Abbey memorial above Aubrey]
Additional information from Pershore Parish Records, Holy Cross, Film No 216/7, available at Worcestershire Archives.

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 3rd October 1914:
Lieut. A.W. Hudson is the youngest son of Lieut.-Col. A.H. Hudson, of Wick House, Pershore.  He is 31 years of age.  He served for several years with the Cape Mounted Rifles, in South Africa, under Col. Lukin, and was transferred in 1909 to the 5th Worcesters (Special Reserve).  On the outbreak of the War he was appointed to the 2nd Battalion of the Worcesters for active service, and he has been present at all the engagements, including Mons.  Two other sons of Col. Hudson are in the Army, viz., one in the Royal Engineers and the other in one of the Worcestershire Service Battalions of Kitchener’s New Army.

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 10th October 1914:
Wor’shire Casualties
Death of Lieut. Hudson.
The family of Lieut. Aubrey Hudson (who last week reported missing) have received an official communication from the War Office that he is dead.
Deep sympathy is extended by a large circle of friends in the district to the family in their bereavement.
At the harvest festival service on Sunday in Pershore Abbey, the Rev. J. Jervis, Vicar of Wick, made a touching reference to his death, and to the toll of human life in the European War.
Lieut. Hudson was the youngest son of Col. A H Hudson of Wick, Pershore. He was 31 years of age.  He served for several years with the Cape Mounted Rifles in South Africa under Colonel Lukin.  He was transferred in 1909 to the 5th Worcesters (Special Reserve).  It will be remembered that the Special Reserve, numbering about 600 officers and men, were encamped at Croome Park this summer, and that, on the day war was declared by Great Britain against Germany, Lord Coventry presented to the Battalion its new colours, and Lieut. Hudson was told by his Commanding Officer to receive the colours from his Lordship.  Lieut. Hudson was appointed to the 2nd Battalion of the Worcester’s for active service, and had been present at all engagements, including Mons.  He was serving with the Second Division of the 5th Brigade, which has just been commended by Field Marshall Sir John French for its excellent work.  Lieutenant Hudson was very popular in the Pershore district, where his family is held in universal esteem.  A keen sportsman, he occasionally followed the Croome Hounds, and often played for the Pershore Hockey Club.  He also associated himself with various social movements in the district.
Two other sons of Col. Hudson’s have answered the call of the King and Country in this War.  Capt. Arthur Hudson is serving with the 7th Royal Fusiliers, and Lieut. W. W. Hudson is serving with one of the Worcestershire Service Battalions of Kitchener’s New Army.

An almost identical report can found in the Malvern Advertiser, 10th October 1914.

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 17th October 1914:
LATE LIEUT. AUBREY HUDSON
Sir, – I am enclosing the copy of a letter which I have received from Colonel Westmacott, who is the officer in command of my son’s Regiment.  I have received so many kind inquiries from my son’s friends since he has been reported “missing,” asking for further information regarding him, and as reports have been so misleading, I am sending you a copy of his Colonel’s letter, which contains the particulars of his death, and I should be very grateful if you would kindly insert it in your paper this week.
Yours faithfully
A.H. Hudson
(Copy of letter from Colonel Westmacott, Commanding 2nd Worcesters, to Lt.-Col. Hudson).
My dear Hudson, – I am very sorry to have to tell you, but I think you know it already, that your son, Aubrey, was killed, and please accept my sincerest sympathy.  He was getting on so well and fell at the head of his men in a wood fight, in which his Company got somewhat scattered.  Many men were missing for some time.  I heard afterwards from an N.C.O., who saw him fall, that his end was merciful and painless.  His body was afterwards found by some men of another Regiment and buried in the wood.  We know the spot, and it can be approximately identified after the war.  I am, of course, not allowed at present to give the whereabouts.  I am so very sorry. We have not as yet received very much for the men in the shape of comforts by reason of the very inconvenient postal arrangements, but these are getting better every day, and we may expect them now at any time.  We do not require any clothing as Government give the men as much as they can carry.  Cigarettes, papers, tobacco, chocolate, matches, etc. are what are most needed.
We are all very fit and well and getting on famously.  Many thanks for all your good wishes.
Yours very sincerely,
C.B.L. WESTMACOT