Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

Bomb Disposal Royal Engineers, Home Forces, British Army

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

Bomb Disposal Royal Engineers, Home Forces, British Army

Awarded on:

April 20th, 1943

In recognition of conspicuous gallantry for carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner. He returned to London [from the States] just in time to tackle a new type of enemy battery-powered fuse. It could be paralysed by liquid oxygen, which deadened the batteries, but the resulting extremely low temperature would crack the bomb-casing, setting off another type of fuse. Working on a half-tonne UXB near the Albert bridge ... he neutralised the main fuse, and heard the crack but no explosion. He coolly climbed down into the crater and bodily removed the fuse... For this he was awarded his first George Medal in 1943.

It was not possible to carry out the customary exhaustive tests before introducing a new disposal process. It fell to Major Hudson to continue the experiments in which he had actively participated in the laboratory, by attempting to dispose of a live bomb which had been assigned a high priority.

--

"Major Hudson showed devotion to duty and sustained cool deliberate courage of a high order over a period of two and a half hours, during which time he disposed of an enemy bomb fitted with a new type fuse, by an entirely new process, *** only partially exploded in the laboratory, well knowing the risks he ran.

On the night of 17/18th January, 1943, the enemy dropped bombs containing a new type of anti-handling fuze, designed to function if the bomb is moved or subjected to shock or vibration. By chance a sample fuze which did not function was recovered, and owing to its nature an entirely new method of disposal had to be devised in the laboratory without delay, as nine similar unexploded bombs awaited disposal in London, most of these in positions where early disposal was called for. For this reason; and as only one fuze was available for research and experiment, it was not possible to carry out the customary exhaustive tests before introducing a new disposal process. It fell to Major Hudson to continue the experiments in which he had actively assisted in the laboratory, by attempting to dispose of a live bomb which had been assigned a high priority.

On 24th January, 1943, Major Hudson, using improvised appliances, mainly of his own devising, commenced work on a 500 kilogram category "B" bomb which denied the use of the Albert Bridge Road and access to a flour works. The process relied on the temporary immunization of the fuze for a period sufficient to enable it to be extracted by remote control. It was anticipated, and Major Hudson knew this, that unequal contraction of the bomb casing and fuze pocket might result in sudden fracture, the schock due to which might well during which Major Hudson was necessarily in contact with the bomb for periods totaling about an hour, it was estimated, as a result of previous laboratory experiments, that the fuze would have become sufficiently immune to justify extraction. An attempt was made to extract it by remote control, but owing to an anti-withdrawal device being fitted this proved impossible. With the light fading, Major Hudson, exercising considerable force, succeeded by wrenching and turning it, in extracting it by hand, after which he removed the detonator, thus rendering the fuze permanently immune and recovering a second fuze urgently required for further research. Extraction took twenty-three minutes instead of the maximum twenty minutes which had previously been agreed on as giving a reasonable factor of safety before the fuze again became active. During the course of disposal, Major Hudson, at the bomb, telephoned a full, clear and critical account of his actions including proposed future modifications to the process.

It is due to Major Hudson that the new process, since improved as a result of his observations at the time, could be released without delay to selected Bomb Disposal officers as being a reasonably safe one. This has already enabled eight similar 500 kilogram bombs which fell in London, mostly in positions where clearance was called for without undue delay, to be disposed of successfully."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

Bomb Disposal Royal Engineers, Home Forces, British Army

Awarded on:

September 15th, 1944

In recognition of conspicuous gallantry in carrying out work in a very brave manner.

For defusing the first V1 flying bomb or "doodlebug" to land intact. His "technical excellence of his work" and his "clear observations" under nerve-shredding conditions were of the highest order and had "contributed in no small degree to a knowledge of the fusing system".

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"On the 24th June, 1944, Major Hudson, assisted by Mr. Hurst and Dr. Dawson and others commenced work on the investigation of fuzes fitted to the first complete Warhead of a Flying Bomb which had, up till then, been found. Two of the three fuzes were of a type found in previous incomplete flying bombs, and these two successfully dealt with by Major Hudson. The third fuze, contained in the rear side duze pocket, was unmarked and of an unknown type, and Major Hudson was instructed to recover it without fail. Radiographs by Dr. Dawson showed the existence of a clock-work movement in the third fuze similar to that used in German long delay fuzes. The operation started on 24th June and proceeded continuously during the hours of daylight until the evening of the 2nd July. Intermittently during this period Flying Bombs were being attacked by aircraft overhead and being brought down in the neighborhood, a most disturbing factor for those working on the bomb and trying to avoid disturbance which might start the clockwork mechanism of the fuze.

Major Hudson was in charge of this hazardous operation, the successful conclusion of which called for a high degree of sustained courage and determination, combined with clear thinking. He was well aware of the danger an a great strain was placed on him during the nine days in question, more especially after he became affected by the toxic nature of the explosive. Nevertheless the technical excellence of his work and his clear observations recorded under these circumstances were of the highest order. His work has undoubtedly contributed in no small degree to a knowledge of the fuzing system and how to deal with the fuzes."

Second GM received as bar.

Rank:

Director

Unit:

Long Ashton Research Station Bristol

Awarded on:

January 1st, 1975

For services to horticulture.