Name
William James Hughes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/08/1918
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
22307
Royal Irish Fusiliers (Prince Victoria’s)
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARNEKE BRITISH CEMETERY
III. C. 12
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Memorial, Bushey Heath
Pre War
Born in Bushey on 3 May 1984 and baptised on 29 June 1894 in Bushey, William James Hughes was the eldest son of Frank and Louise (Née Ambridge) Hughes of Clay Hill, Bushey. His parents were married in 1883 in Bushey.
At the 1901 Census, the family was living at 7 Rosebery Road, Bushey. His father, a waterworks labourer, is 42 years old and William, a gardener’s labourer, is 16 years old. Also present are his 42-year-old mother and a younger brother, Frank, who is 12 years old. Bushey is given as the birthplace for all of the family members.
William married Elizabeth Emily Cooke on 4 February 1905 in Bushey.
At the 1911 Census, William’s family was living at 123 School Lane, Bushey with three children; William (Jnr.), Albert and George. The ages given for William (Snr.) and Elizabeth are 27 and 28, and those of the children are 4, 2 and 8mths respectively. There had been another child, who had died in childhood.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Watford as Private 22307 in the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Prince Victoria), serving with the 1st Battalion. He died of wounds on 14 August 1918, aged 36. He was buried at Arneke British Cemetery in northern France, which at that time was being used by the 62nd (1/2 London) Clearing Station.
William is also commemorated on the Bushey memorial and at St Peter’s Church, Bushey Heath.
His pension record card gives Elizabeth as his dependent, living at 21 Primrose Gardens, School Lane, Bushey, and gives her date of birth as 7 October 1884. It also lists four children with their dates of birth; William Frank (01/08/1906), Albert Jas Sidney (18/06/1908), George Arthur (06/07/1910) and Violet Maud (17/12/1917). A grant of £9 was paid to Elizabeth on 9 September 1918 and a pension of 33/9 from 24 February 1919.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
