BROTHER TO:

Lance Corporal 18228 Robert M (Madoc) Hughes 1 Bn Lancashire Fusiliers, KIA 9 May 1915. Helles Memorial.

Rifleman 7015 John W (Walter) Hughes 3 Bn Rifle Brigade died of wounds 31 July 1915. Les Gonards Cemetery, Versailles.

David Ernest Hughes  was the second of three brothers to fall in the war. His brothers were Lance Corporal 18228 Robert M Hughes and  Rifleman 7015 John W Hughes.

David was born in 1897 at Oswestry – he was the fifth of seven children, with the youngest, Albert, born in 1900. Their father, David, was a stone sawyer. In 1891 they were living at Hughes Yard on Llys Lane and by 1901 had moved to 25 Upper Church Street. Their mother, Mary, died in 1902 and some time after they moved to 19 Orchard Street. In 1911 David was still at school.

Census records are inconsistent with David’s birth date – varying between 1887, 1894 and 1897 – however, a surviving family relation has his birth certificate which gives 5 June 1897 as his birth date – this would make him 17 when he was killed and the youngest ‘Man on the Gates’ thus far identified.

His service number, 9508, indicates he enlisted in 1913, probably when he turned 16. He had enlisted at Warwick joining 2 Bn South Staffordshire – a regular army unit. At least two of his brothers, Robert and John, had served in the pre-war regular army, so there would seem to have been a ‘military tradition’ in the family. He would have signed on as a boy soldier and would have been underage at the outbreak of war. The minimum age for active service was 19 years unless the C/O had given his consent; this would seem to be the case for David.  This was also the same battalion that Private 5947 Alfred Steenton was in, who was the brother of Martha, wife of his brother John. This possibly influenced David’s  decision and they served together at home. Alfred though went over to France with the battalion on 30 August 1914. He was KIA 15 November 1914, David arrived in France a few weeks later on 30 November 1914.

David was KIA at Richebourg L’Avoue on 18 May 1915 when 2 Bn South Staffs had acted as support troops during the offensive at Richebourg L’Avoue. They had moved forward over the 16 & 17 May. On the 18 May they were due to be relieved but new troops could not get forward because of the fighting. Consequently they remained in the field. They were eventually relieved at 1.30am on 19 May. Battalion casualties for the three days were 2 officers, 41 ORs, 10 wounded officers, 404 ORs with 70 ORs missing. David has no known grave and is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial. He is also on St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry war memorial.

A fourth brother, Samuel Henry Hughes, served with 4 Bn Cheshire Regiment; he was wounded and reported missing in August 1915 but survived the war.

His brother John Walter was Brother-in-law to Private 5947 Alfred Steenton

Acknowledgements. Jayne Quince (nee Hughes) – family.

References and Sources

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