Name
William Thomas Hughes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/10/1916
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
SD/5812
Royal Sussex Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
EUSTON ROAD CEMETERY, COLINCAMPS
Plot III, Row O, Grave 5.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Matilda Phoebe (nee LANGLEY) HUGHES; husband of Edith Mary Elizabeth (nee PIGGINS) HUGHES.
His parents married 1879 in the Greenwich, London, district. Matilda died 1921 in Watford aged 70, and was buried 6 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
William was born 14 December 1888 in Watford, and baptised 9 January 1889 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended Callowland Board School, Watford, from 12 February 1901 to 9 December 1902. He married 23 March 1913 at St Matthew’s, Marylebone, London; they had one child. Edith never remarried, and died 1984 in the Watford district aged 88.
On the 1891 Census, aged 2 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 12 he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a grocer’s assistant aged 22, he lived in Edgware Road, London W.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hampstead, London; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is an article about and a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 11 November 1916.
Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
