Hughes, William Henry

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William Henry Hughes

357306 (6195), Private,13th (or 1/10th [TF] attached 13th) The King’s (Liverpool Regiment)
Killed in action, 16 August 1916, aged 24
No known grave (Thiepval Memorial, France)

CWGC registered (Son of Mrs Laura Jane Hughes, of “Heath Cot[tage]”, Trinity St, Llandudno, Carnarvonshire)

William Henry Hughes was born on 11 July 1892 in Llandudno. He was the son of William Henry and Laura Jane Hughes (previously Griffith) of 35 Jubilee Street, Llandudno. William (senior) was a painter and sign writer. In 1901 the family (parents, their three children and two children from Laura’s first marriage) lived at 2 Hughes’ Yard, Back Madoc Street. William (senior) died in 1906 and the 1911 Census for Wales records Laura, William and his two full siblings living at 37 Alexandra Road, Llandudno. William was described as a chemist’s assistant.

William Henry Hughes enlisted at Liverpool into the King’s (Liverpool Regiment). He was given the regimental number of 6195 in the 10th Battalion, Territorial Force. William’s army record no longer exists but another Llandudno soldier who lost his life, 6349 Edward Wallace (qv) joined the 10th KLR just a little later. Edward Wallace attested on 7 December 1915 and was mobilised on 23 February 1916. Edward Wallace trained with the 3/10th (Scottish) KLR that had formed in May 1915. The battalion was renamed 10th (Scottish) TF Reserve Battalion KLR in April 1916. Edward Wallace (and quite possibly William Henry Hughes) disembarked at Boulogne on 14 July 1916. On 26 July, Edward Wallace was transferred and proceeded to the 13th (Service) Battalion. There appear to be several instances of soldiers in the Territorial Force being transferred to the 13th KLR in the build up to the Somme Offensive.

On 16 August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, the 13th KLR took part in a failed attack near Guillemont that sustained heavy casualties. William Hughes was originally listed as missing and efforts were made to trace him as a possible prisoner of war through the Red Cross. One effort was made by his mother who gave her address as “Heath Cottage”, Trinity Street, Llandudno. Another was by the Liverpool Women’s War Service Bureau. Unfortunately, these efforts were fruitless and William Henry Hughes was eventually listed as being killed in action on 16 August 1916 aged 24 although not until after he had been renumbered 357306 in 1917. Edward Wallace was wounded in action and died of these wounds on 17 August 1916; he is remembered under his original Territorial Force number of 6349.

Soldiers Died in the Great War, the Commonwealth War Grave Commission records and the medal rolls indicate that William Hughes’ last battalion was the 13th KLR. However, the Soldiers’ Effects’ Register recorded him as being in the 1/10th Battalion and his mother believed him to be in “C” Company of the Liverpool Scottish – the 10th KLR. Although the 1/10th KLR had been involved in action near Guillemont, this was a few days before William went missing and on 16 August it was bivouacked behind the lines at Méaulte near Albert. There can be no doubt that both William Hughes and Edward Wallace were fighting with the 13th Battalion when they were wounded/killed.

Known memorials:

• Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
• Llandudno Roll of Honour
• Llandudno War Memorial
• Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno