Roland Burton Hudson was born at Kirkby Overblow in 1891, the eldest son of Samuel (Sam) and Mary Hudson. Educated at King James' School, Knaresborough and Pannal Ash College, he won a scholarship in 1909 to study mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge. The 1911 Census records him living with his parents and brothers George Herbert and Penshyn Stanley at Bridge House in Pannal.
Roland enlisted into the ranks of the 21st (Public Schools) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on 15th September 1914 at Harrogate. Prior to enlisting he had been employed as a fine art dealer's assistant in London. He was discharged to a commission on 26th May 1915, going to France as a second lieutenant with the 2/1st Battalion, Ox. and Bucks. Light Infantry on 26th May 1916.
On 19th July 1916, Roland's battalion took part in the attack at Fromelles, a subsidiary operation to the offensive on the Somme. The events of that day are recorded in the battalion war diary:“ZERO” was at 11am and at that hour our bombardment started.
By 5.30pm we had lost nearly 100 men killed and wounded by shell fire. This was serious as on July 18th “A” Company (which was holding the battalion front) lost 78 men gassed - owing to one of OUR shells having burst a gas cylinder in our trenches. The battalion went into action with 20 officers and 622 other ranks. This was reduced by casualties suffered during the action to 6 officers and 300 other ranks.
[At 5.40pm] what was left of “A” and “D” companies (the assaulting companies) - about 120 men - filed out into NO MANS LAND by RHONNDA SAP, and lay down in four waves.
[At 6pm] with a cheer, the four waves leapt up and assaulted the enemy’s trenches. Even before 5.40pm the enemy’s machine guns had become busy, and at 6pm they mowed down our advancing waves, so that only a few men actually reached the German parapet. These did not return.
Telephone communication between Battalion Battle HQs and front line was soon cut (about 1pm). After many gallant attempts to mend the wire, success was obtained at exactly 5.40pm, and from 5.40 till 9.30pm the telephone was in constant use and saved many lives - in that runners were spared.
Reports that flowed in over the telephone were sent on - as they came in - straight to Brigade HQs, and were very contradictory. Owing to the distance between the trenches, and to the continuous bombardment and smoke, the officers who were observing found their task almost impossible of fulfilment with any degree of accuracy. Seeing our men actually on the German parapet it was concluded that a certain number must have got in. But it is certain that very few survived the enemy’s machine-gun fire; and whether or not they got in or not, they never returned. “C” Company (the company which carried on R.E. material for consolidating purposes) went out into NO MANS LAND at 6.10pm but, again, the enemy’s machine-gun fire prevented any advance without extermination.
By 6.30pm it was clear that 1) the attack could not succeed without more men, 2) that given more men (say two companies) the attack must have succeeded. No reserves, however, were available, and the commanding officer of the battalion was ordered to reorganise and to attack again at 8.30pm. This order was received at a time when every man, save a few telephone operators, orderlies and wounded, was in NO MANS LAND. Gradually about 80 men (of “A”, “C” and “D” companies) were reorganised, and 40 men of “B” Company (the reserve company) were added.
[At 7.30pm] the order then came to postpone attack till 9pm.
And at 8pm the order came through that no further attack would take place that night. Every officer who went out with the assaulting companies was either killed or wounded, and Capt. H. S. G. BUCKMASTER was the only officer who went out into NO MANS LAND who came back physically unhurt.
Over 18th and 19th July the battalion lost 4 officers and 62 other ranks killed, 9 officers wounded (one fatally), 62 other ranks wounded, and 2 officers and 65 other ranks missing. Among the missing was Roland Burton Hudson. His body could not be identified and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial. Roland is also commemorated at Pannal.