William Hudson

Born in Sunderland in 1920, William Hudson enlisted in November 1940 and saw action with the 18th Battalion DLI as part of a Beach Group on the invasion beaches of Sicily and Salerno, where he was wounded. In January 1944 he joined 16 DLI in Italy and was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery, when, as a Colour Sergeant, he took command of his Company during an attack. Later, when a soldier was shot in the back, "he personally went out for the sniper. After a tortuous journey to the sniper's position, he disposed of him". In 1946, he left the Army only to re-enlist in 1949 as a Regular with the 1st Battalion DLI. He served in the Korean War and finally retired from the Army in November 1958. William Hudson died in 1992.