Robert Owen Hughes cannot positively be identified on UK Census records. On St Oswald’s War Memorial he is listed as being in the Middlesex Regiment and as being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Robert was born in Wrexham, possibly in 1882. He enlisted at Chester, joining the 3 Bn Middlesex Regiment. Robert was KIA on 10 February 1915. Given his date of death he was most likely a regular serving soldier – this is borne out by his regimental number. At the outbreak of war the battalion was in India and returned to the UK in December 1914 and then went over to France in January 1915. In February 1915 the battalion was in camp at Fletre near to Balliel and on 2 February marched to Reningelst, not far from Ypres. They went into the trenches for the first time on 7 February, spending four days holding the line and were relieved during the night of 10/11 February. The battalion War Diary records casualties of 1 officer and 28 ORs killed and 2 officers and 56 ORs wounded during the tour of duty. Robert’s body was lost and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres. He is also on the war memorial at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.  Robert was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry but no details as to the circumstances have been discovered. It is just possible that he had won the award during the South African War with the Middlesex Yeomanry.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

END