William Alfred Hughes

Name William Alfred Hughes

Regiment 2nd Bn., Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)

Service Rank and Number Private 81421

Military Cemetery/Memorial Poziers British Cemetery,Ovillers-La Boisselle

Ref No. of Grave or Memorial lll.R.9

Country of Cemetery/Memorial France

Medals Awarded

Date and Circumstances of Death Died aged 27 on 9th september 1916

Biographical Details Known He was born on the 12th January 1891 and was the son of Thomas and Mary Hughes of Mold. In the 1901 census the family was living in Stanley Street, Mold. William was 13 and he lived with his father Thomas, 62 yrs - a cattle dealer, his mother Mary 45 and his siblings Annie 22, Lottie 17, Thomas Henry 15, Ethel 8 and Norman 6.

The 1911 census places the family in Marlow Terrace, Mold. Mary was 57 and was now a widow. Still living with her were Annie Mary 32, Charlotte Elizabeth 26, Ethel 19, a private school teacher, Edward 30 a draper and Norman 16, a solicitor's clerk. There is no sign of William and we believe that by 1911, he had emigrated to Canada.

We next find him in Winnipeg in December of 1914 where he is joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His attestation papers tell us that he has dropped the William from his name and he is calling himself Alfred Hughes. He names his mother Mary Hughes as his next of kin and gives her address as 10 Grosvenor Street, Mold. He says his trade or calling was 'Cattle Dealer' - as his father had been. He says he was unmarried. He was described as 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall, with a medium complexion,brown eyes and dark brown hair.