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Hughes, Edward

Edward was born in 1898 in Mold. The census of 1901 records him living with his family at 17 Alyn View, Mold. Head of the household was James 27, a Tin Plate Worker. His wife Martha was 28 and their listed children were Henry 7, Arthur 4, Edward 3 and Harriet 1. The family was bilingual – speaking Welsh and English.

The family was still at the same address ten years later in the census of 1911. James was 37 and still working in the Tin Plate Works. His wife of 17 years, Martha was 38. She had  by then, given birth to 9 children all of whom survived. Listed in the household were Henry 17 (also in the Tin Plate Works) Edward 13, Harriet 11, James 9, John Henry 7, Allen 6, Caroline 4, Ada 3 and Mary 1.

Edward’s Army Service Records have survived and are accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk  They tell us that he signed up by swearing an oath on the 11th December 1915 in Mold. His Attestation papers from that day records his address as 17 Alyn View Mold. He was just 17 years and 10 months old. His occupation was ‘Munitions Worker’.  He was 5 feet 4 and a half inches tall and had a chest measurement of 32 inches (with an expansion range of 2 and a half inches). His next of kin was his mother Martha.

Edward was placed in the Army Reserve from the 12th December 1915 until he was mobilised, posted and joined  in August 1916. His original regimental number was 5364. It was later changed to 267494. We know from the records that he had spent a period of time at Park Hall Camp in Oswestry. He was appointed as unpaid Lance Corporal on 16th February 1917 but that seems to have been a temporary arrangement because he was a Private for most of his time in service.  On the 3rd August 1917 he set sail from Southampton and arrived at Rouen in France the next day. He joined base Depot No 5 on the 5th August, was posted to the 16th Bttn RWF on the 17th and joined the Battalion ‘in the field’ on the 25th August 1917. 25 days later he was dead – killed in action.

His records include correspondence with his mother concerning the receipt of his medals, a commemorative plaque and scroll and poignantly, his personal effects which were listed on the form below.

54_Edward_Hughes

Martha completed a ‘Living Relatives ‘ form for the army  in October 1919. The whole family still lived at 17 Alyn View, Mold. There is nothing written in the space for Father’s name so we assume that James had died. (Needs checking) Martha lists Edward’s full blood brothers as

Henry James Roberts 25 (The Roberts here is very puzzling),  Arthur Hughes 23, James Hughes 18, John Hughes 16, Allan Hughes 14.

His full blood sisters were Hettie Hughes 20, Caroline Hughes 12, Ada Hughes 11, Mary Hughes 10 and Annie Hughes 8.

The Register of Soldier’s Effects in which the Army calculated what monies were owed to deceased soldiers, (Ancestry), includes an entry for Edward Hughes. His sole Legatee was his mother Martha who  received a total of £8 ..8sh ..0d in two separate payments.

 


Learn more about the other soldiers on the Mold Urban Memorial

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