Hubert Hudson

Huberht Taylor Hudson (also known as Hubert Hudson) (17 September 1886 – 15 June 1942), was a navigating office in the British Royal Navy, who took part in Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition to Antarctica.

Hudson joined the expedition whilst a 'mate' within the Royal Navy. He earned himself the nickname of 'Buddha', when the rest of the crew successfully tricked him into dressing-up in little more than a bedsheet for a 'fancy dress' party on the whaling station at South Georgia that was in reality anything but.[1]

During the expedition, Hudson was famed for his ability to catch penguins, which the crew ate as a source of food whilst trapped on the ice. It's also known that towards the end of the expedition, Hudson suffered a severe breakdown of mental morale, possibly due to a massive boil that he developed on his buttocks. His illness caused Frank Wild, the second-in-command, a lot of worry that he would not survive. However, Hudson pulled through and eventually recovered his health.[2]

Upon return from the expedition, Hudson took part in World War I, serving on 'mystery ships'.[2]

He later also took part in World War II as a Commodore within the Royal Navy reserves. Hudson died on 15 June 1942 when his ship H.M.S. Eaglet was torpedoed.