Hugh Hughes, HMT Sapper

The trawler of 276 tons and built in 1915 was lost with all 19 crew in the English Channel approximately 8 miles from the East Beach at Selsey, West Sussex. The cause of sinking is unknown, but it is probable that the vessel struck a mine laid on December 24, 1917 by the German minelaying submarine UC 71. According to Admiralty records, the explosion was witnessed by both the Owers Light Vessel and the steamer SS Tewfikieh. The wreck has been located by divers and is reported to be broken into three sections.Hugh Hughes was born on 25 August 1893 at Holyhead, the son of Hugh (d.1910) and Mary Hughes (d.1932) of 1 Pump Street, Mill Bank, Holyhead. In 1911 he lived at the same address with his widowed mother, Mary, and sisters - Grace (27), a Dressmaker; Mary Ellen (24), a School Teacher and Maggie Elizabeth (12). He was 17 and unemployed at the time. His sister Margaret Elizabeth married Owen W Williams in 1924 and lived on at 1 Pump Street.

Hugh Hughes was a survivor of the sinking of HMS Tara in November 1915 and subsequent internment as a prisoner of the Sennusi in the north African Desert for four months. He later joined the RNR in June 1916 and served on the Holyhead base ship, HMS Amethyst and then on HMT Merse before joining HMT Sapper in July 1917.

Awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.