Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
JOHN HIPPEY HUDSON, one of the six sons and one daughter of Samuel (a coal merchant) and Sarah (neé Hippey) was born at South Luffenham, Rutland, on the 16th of May 1893.
His first job on leaving school was as a carriage groom at South Luffenham Hall, moving on to work in the stables at Apethorpe Hall.
He enlisted in the 12th Lancers on the 18th of August 1914, with the service number L/6062.
He was initially stationed at Woodstown, Waterford Ireland, before moving on to the Markborough Barracks, Dublin in October 1916.
He served in France with the H.Q. 5th Cavalry Brigade and was appointed “officer’s servant” – a batman.
He had two home leaves during this period – in October 1915 and August 1918.
He was transferred to the Army Reserve (demobilised) on the 3rd of May 1919.

Edward W Barron, who had been John’s commanding officer in the Lancers, employed him in1919 as a valet in London, then as an under-butler in Woodstown, County Waterford, Ireland.
John married Hagar Ellen Powell, whom he had met while working at Apethorpe, at South Luffenham on the 6th of October 1920.

Ellen (as she was always known) didn’t want to go to Ireland so John found a post as butler/valet to H Bligh Nutting at Riseborough Hall, Pickering, Yorkshire. John and Ellen had several engagements over the next six years, usually with Ellen working as a cook in the same household. They had four daughters between 1921 and 1927.

On the 25th of May1926 John took up the post that was to last to the end of his life – butler at Larkenshaw, Chobham, Surrey.
He died aged 78 in St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey on 25th November 1971.
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Information kindly sent in by family member, Mr. N. Cumming, 2018