I believe that John Hughes was born circa 1898 and was the only child of Thomas & Mary HUGHES, who must have died as Thomas remarried to Joanna MARTIN in 1913 in Lancashire.     John had 3 half-sisters, Joan HUGHES, 1915, Mabel HUGHES, 1916 and Dorothy HUGHES 1919 according to the Family History of bridgetlight2 on Ancestry.

John, 13, is seen on the 1911 census with his mother, Mary, 41, living at 310 High Street, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire (4 rooms).   Mary tells us that she had been married 21 years and 1 child had been born, and was still living.  Both had been born in Northop Parish, Flintshire.   John’s father Thomas must have been “at Sea” as he was a Master Mariner, and I believe he is seen on the 1901 census on the “Deerhound” as Master:-   Place Sch. Delivered – Plymouth 30^th March 1901 – Position of Vessel at Midnight 31^st March 1901 – At sea, Bristol Channel.  Date when Sch. Returned to Customs Officer – 1st April 1901 Milford Haven

I don’t know when John met Ethel Kate Parry but he married her in 1921 in St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay, they were living quite close to each other.

Page 28 No.56  19^th Oct 1921 John HUGHES, 24. Bachelor, Mariner, 7, Mold Road., Thomas HUGHES Master Mariner & Ethel Kate PARRY, 24, Spinster, 72, Church St., Thomas PARRY, Master Mariner.Witnesses:-  John BENNETT & Mary Ann HEWITT (By Licence).

There are no censuses released after the 1911 census that may throw some light on their lives, but they are seen again on the 1939 Register:-

30 Church Street , Connah’s Quay U.D., Flintshire, Wales

John     Hughes            29 Mar 1897    Male    Master Mariner            Married           257      1

Ethel Kate Hughes      19 Dec 1896    Female Unpaid Domestic Duties        Married           257      2

Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.

John Barrie Hughes     30 Jul 1925      Male    At School        Single  257      4

1939 Register of John’s Stepmother and half – sisters

Hughes Household (3 People)#

7 Mold Road , Connah’s Quay U.D., Flintshire, Wales

Joanna Hughes            06 May 1879(1878)    Female Unpaid Domestic Duties        Widowed       260      1

Mabel  Jones (Hughes)            24 Feb 1916    Female Artificial Silk Spinner Single  260      2

Dorothy Fullford (Hughes) 05 May 1918 Female Manageress – Drapery Dept         Single  260      3

I believe that Dorothy married Clare Richard Fullford on the 12^th May 1945 in a Civil Ceremony at Holywell (Flintshire (Mold)HOL/68/47).

#There was also, at that address, another person– Anne HODSON, 24^th September 1880 School Teacher. Single, Sch 261  1

However fate was to find John & and another Connah’s Quay man, Frederick Edwards, (who had married a Cornish lady and was living in Penzance) on the SS “Farfield” on that fateful day.    Please click on the link to read his story, although he is not mentioned on the Connah’s Quay and Shotton WW2 War Memorial for some unknown reason.  However he is buried in Connah’s Quay Cemetery and has a Commonwealth War Gravestone.

This website tells the story of what happened to the SS”Farfield” and the crew.   Please click on the link to read it, very interesting indeed.   Permission granted by Tony from Rhiw.  Many thanks to him.  http://www.rhiw.com/y_mor/shipwrecks/farfield/farfield.htm

Steamer was Bombed by Enemy Aircraft off Welsh Coast when all the Crew were Killed. List sent 6^th January 1943. Amend. Sent 19^th April 1943.

30, Church Street, Connah’s Quay

In the Register of Deceased Seamen December 1942 was the CREW LIST

HUGHES, John – Master age 42 – 30, Church Street, Connah’s Quay

BOWLES, Vincent James – Chief Engineer age 66 – 41, Mount Street, Flint.

EDWARDS, Frederick – Mate age 36 – born Connah’s Quay – 43, Trevean Rd., Penzance

JENKIN, Alexander – 2^nd Engineer  age 30– born Newlyn – 27, Choyne Avenue, Newlyn

WARD, Patrick – A.B. age 28 – born Warren Point – 11, Charles Street, Warren Point

JONES, W.J. – Fireman age 48 – born Llanelly – 13, Covent Street, Llanelly

BENNETT, Harold (Herbert crossed out) O.S.age 19 – born Flint – 9, Lea Cottage, Flint

HUGHES, Thomas John  – Fireman age 65 – born Wrexham – Pentre, Queensferry, Chester.

Transmitted by the Owners:- J.W. COPPACK, “Westfield,” Church Street, Connah’s Quay

I currently have no information on Thomas John Hughes, so if anyone can shed any light on him, please get in touch with the website.

This story must have been almost ‘normal’ in those days, it was a bad time to live through.