HUGHES, Hugh Alec
130290 Lance Corporal, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment).
Born
5th July 1889.
The second son of Rev. Albert Hughes and Loiusa Hughes, late of Somerville Tiverton and Mrs. M. L. Hughes, of Hill Crest, Newton Abbot, Devon.
Education
Blundell’s School, a “Day Boy” entering at the age of 13.
January 1903 to Summer 1906.
Personal details
At attestation in Vancouver, Canada, on 28th March 1916, he was described as unmarried, 26 years old, 5’8” tall with a 36” chest, healthy complexion, grey eyes, brown hair. He had no scars. He gave his profession as Engineer and was a member of the Church of England.
Service
He enlisted in March 1915 in Canada where he had been engaged in surveying and joined the Canadian Seaforths in Vancouver B.C. He went across to France in August 1915 and took part in a series of attacks which began with Vimy Ridge. He was made up to Lance Corporal and due to his skills and manner, on the day he died he was placed in command of a group of men tasked with holding a post.
Death
1st May 1917, aged 27.
His death was due to a hit from a shell into the trench where he was positioned.
Burial/Commemoration
He was buried the same evening he died and later reburied in La Chaudiere Military Cemetery, approximately 3 kilometres south of Lens and is situated on the north-western outskirts of Vimy, Pas de Calais, France. Grave III. F. 11.
Memorial
La Chaudiere Military Cemetery is approximately 3 kilometres south of Lens and is situated on the north-western outskirts of Vimy. The cemetery was made at the foot of the ridge, on the north-eastern side, next to a house which had contained a camouflaged German gun position. At this time, the cemetery was known as Vimy Canadian Cemetery No 1. It remained very small until the summer of 1919, when graves were brought in from many other small cemeteries and isolated sites on or near the ridge. There are 906 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. The cemetery enclosure was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Research
Commonwealth War Graves Commission - www.cwgc.org
Canadian Archives: www.collectionscanada.ca
- Attestation: RG 150 1992-93/166 Box 4592 - 28
- War Diary: RG9 Series III-D-3 Vol
“The Register of Blundell's School, Part II 1882 – 1932” (1932) MAHOOD, A.S., Ed. Entry No. 4915.
“The Blundellian”, 1917 June p308
Cemeteries & Memorials in Belgium & Northern France (2004) Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 13/310