Charles Henry Hughes, was born in 1897 at Coed y Go, Oswestry. His father was John, a farmer and animal dealer. His mother was Mary who died circa 1899/1900. He was the youngest of 7 children with siblings Alfred, Frank, Bertha, Nellie, Herbert and George Hughes. The family lived at Llwyn y Mapsis farm near Morda – their father’s cousin, Mary Judson, lived with them as housekeeper. Charles went to Oswestry School. He then took an engineering apprenticeship at the Cambrian Railways.

Charles enlisted in August 1914 joining the ‘Oswestry Pals’ 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry – he was one of the recruits who left Oswestry on 9 September 1914. He went over to France with the battalion in July 1915. In July/August 1917 he was selected for officer training and was posted at Kinmel Camp. He received his commission on 30 October 1917 and was posted to 14 Bn Welsh Regiment.  Charles was killed in action on 30 August 1918.

During the last half of August the battalion were operating on the Somme in the area around the River Ancre, Thiepval and then at Bazentin and High Wood. On 30 August the battalion was in action to launch an attack against Morval village. His obituary records that he was killed while attempting to rescue a wounded officer on August 20 – this is most likely a misprint. Charles was buried at Morval British Cemetery. He is also commemorated on the Cambrian Railway Memorial, at St Oswald’s Church, Trefonen War Memorial and at Oswestry School.

A third brother, Frank, had emigrated to Canada in April 1903, he served in Canadian Forces, was wounded in September 1916 but survived the war.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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