Hughes, Edward

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Edward Morris Hughes

3/25879, Private, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers
Killed in action, 9 August 1917, aged 30
Buried at Level Crossing Cemetery, Fampoux, France

CWGC registered (Husband of Margaret Hughes, of 2, Belle Vue Terrace, Gt. Ormes Head, Llandudno)

Edward Morris Hughes was born in Llandudno on 9 November 1888. He was the son of John Hughes and Margaret Hughes (née Jones). His known siblings were Elizabeth, Ellen, Thomas, John (qv), William and George. The Census of Wales for 1881, taken seven years before Edward was born, records the family living at “Bodlondeb”, Church Walks, Llandudno: John (senior) described as a carter. In 1889, one year after Edward’s birth, Margaret Hughes died and was buried in St. Tudno’s Churchyard, Great Orme’s Head; she was described on her headstone as the wife of John Hughes of 3 Cwlach Street. The Census of 1891 records Edward (2) living at Cwlach Street (recorded as “Victoria Cottages”) with his sister Ellen (20) and her husband Charles Williams. No census record of 1891 for either of the John Hughes can be found. At about this time, his father, John Hughes (senior), married Mary (surname unknown). The Census for 1901 records John (senior), his wife Mary and John (junior) (26) living at 7 Alexandra Terrace, Llandudno; no record for Edward can be found for that year nor can one be found for 1911. On 22 November 1915, Edward Hughes married Margaret Evans at St. George’s Church, Llandudno. Their son Daniel was born the following year.

Edward Hughes’ service record no longer exists. From the scraps of information that are available, it would appear that he volunteered to join the Royal Field Artillery at the end of 1915. It is known that he enlisted in Llandudno. If this is the case, then he was given a day’s pay and called up around May 1916 – his RFA regimental number being 137574. Even though he volunteered for the artillery, the Armed Services Act of 1916 changed the rules and many volunteers who were recruited by the artillery were transferred to the infantry. In Edward’s case, he was transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers in June 1916 with a regimental number of 3/25879. Other soldiers with close service numbers served initially with the 3rd Battalion and were posted overseas in April 1917. On disembarking in France, Edward Hughes was posted to the 2nd Battalion. This battalion was one of the regiment’s regular battalions which had been stationed at Dover on the outbreak of war, disembarking on 20 August 1914 at Boulogne as part of the British Expeditionary Force.

As part of the 12th Brigade in the 4th Division, the battalion was holding the line near Arras on 9 August 1917. That day saw some enemy activity, the war diary reporting incoming artillery, mortars and grenades. It also recorded that six were killed that day. The six were all buried at Level Crossing Cemetery and included Edward Hughes aged 30. Commonwealth War Grave Commission records indicate that Edward’s widow, Margaret Hughes lived at 2 Belle Vue Terrace, Great Orme’s Head, Llandudno. This was her address before she married.

Known memorials:

  • Llandudno Roll of Honour
  • Llandudno War Memorial
  • Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
  • Llanrhos Parish War Memorial, All Saints’ Church, Deganwy
  • Mother’s headstone, St. Tudno’s Churchyard

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