Richard Owen Hughes, HMS Venus

HMS Venus was an Eclipse Class Cruiser completed in 1897 with a displacement of 5,600 tons. She was part of the 11th Cruiser Squadron based in Ireland at the start of the war to guard the western trade routes. By January 1916 she was in Egyptian waters, before being sent to the China station. The Ship's Log confirms that Stoker Hughes was lost overboard and accidentally drowned, on 23 November 1916, whilst the ship was on route from Hong Kong to Singapore. The ship stopped at 8.55 pm to search with lifeboat and searchlights without success. When the ship reached Singapore two days later a Court of Inquiry was held followed by a Memorial Service. He enlisted in the RNR in April 1907 and joined HMS Venus on 27 August 1914.He was born on 27 November 1882 at Llanfairynghornwy, Anglesey, the son of the late David and Anne Hughes of Ddwyfan, Llanfairynghornwy, Anglesey. He was the husband of Mary Elizabeth Hughes (nee Thomas) of 45, Wynne Street, Holyhead. They married at St. Seiriol's Church, Holyhead on 3 July 1904. At that time he was employed as a Farm Labourer at Ty Mawr, Mynydd, Holyhead. His wife was then living at 41 Baker Street, Holyhead. In 1911, aged 29, he lived with family at 34 Baker Street, Holyhead - wife Mary Elizabeth Hughes (29) and daughters LIzzie C Hughes (6), Anne Jane Hughes (3) and Mary Hughes (1). He was then employed as a Fireman on the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company ships. A local newspaper reports that at the time of his death he had 5 children.

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