In 2017, for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Town of Hudson celebrated and honoured the memory of the more than 20 Hudson men who, having volunteered to serve in World War 1, fought at Vimy Ridge. All Hudson residents were invited to join the members of Hudson Legion Br. #115 for a commemorative ceremony in front of the War Memorial located at 394 Main Road, Hudson.

Some Vimy statistics:

• 3,598 Canadians were killed from April 9th-12th, most on the first day.
• 7,004 were wounded, thus over 10,000 casualties in 4 days.
• Over 1,000,000 shells were fired by Canadian cannons during the attack.
• 20,000 soldiers attacked and there were 100,000 Canadians in the area for the attack. This was the first time all 4 Canadian Divisions fought together.
• The idea of the attack was conceived by Lt. General Julian Byng, our soldiers became known as Byng’s Boys.  He later became Governor General of Canada, Sir Julian Byng of Vimy.

On the ground at Vimy Ridge

Photos: Archives Canada

Canadians going over the top of their battle trenches at Vimy Ridge, early morning on April 9th, 1917.

Consolidating the ridge against a German counterattack. Only a few minor attacks did occur. The Germans were off the ridge.

Canadian soldiers heading away from the front after Vimy, happy and victorious.

The Hudson Connection

Photos: Rod Hodgson

Hudson resident Archie Hodgson, 24th Battalion, Victoria Rifles of Canada. Survived Vimy but was killed later that year, in November 1917, at Passchendaele. His body was never found.

John Mullan, was another member of the Cape’s Battery and brother to A.Howard and Hal Mullan. The 3 brothers would meet at Whitlock Golf and Country Club once a year for lunch.

Hudson resident Paul Michaud was at Vimy with 154th Infantry Battalion (Eastern, Ontario). He was a well-known local veteran and Hudson’s last surviving W.W.I. veteran. A member of Hudson Legion Br. #115.

A. Howard ‘Muck’ Mullan, was from Hudson and a member of the 3rd Canadian (Cape’s) Battery.

He and about 20 others from Hudson joined this battery and all survived the war though a couple were wounded.

Rod Hodgson’s great uncle George Mowat was only 16 when he signed up with the 13th Battalion (The Black Watch) of Montreal. He was 19 at Vimy and survived. Though not from Hudson, he came to the Town often to visit family. This photo shows how youthful he was.