Hugh Hughes, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Enlisted at Holyhead and arrived at the Balkans on 28 June 1915. The Battalion was formed at Wrexham in August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. It moved to Mudros in July 1915 and subsequently served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Mesopotamia. At Gallipoli the Division fought at Surva, Sari Bari, Scimiter Hill and Hill 60. By September 1915 the 13th Division as a whole had suffered nearly 6,000 killed, wounded, or missing out of its original strength of 10,500.

The Battalion War Diary records that the Battalion landed at Anzac Cove on 4 August 1915. After taking part in attacks and suffering heavy casualties they then spent some time in the trenches before moving to undertake garrison duty on Cheshire Ridge for the last week of August 1915. Here they supplied fatigue parties for improving communication and fire trenches. It is possible that Private Hughes was killed carrying out this work.

Born at Holyhead on 20 February 1891, the son of Mrs Margaret Hughes (nee Owen) of 43 Foundry Street, Holyhead. In 1901 he lived with his parents Hugh and Margaret Hughes, four younger sisters and two younger brothers at 5 Garden Place Holyhead. In 1911 he lived with his mother, five younger sisters and two younger brothers at 43 Foundry Street, Holyhead. He was employed as a General Labourer. His father had died in 1908, aged 43.

Awarded the 1915 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Commemorated at the Helles Memorial, panel 77 to 80. He has no known grave. He is remembered on a family grave at Maeshyfryd Cemetery, Holyhead.

With thanks to Carol Lowies for the photograph.