Henry Telford Hughes was born in Rhyl, Flintshire, North Wales on 15 August 1883.
The 1891 Census shows that the family lived at 6 Kinmel Street, Rhyl, Flintshire. The head of the family was Robert Hughes aged 50, who was employed as the Rhyl Town Surveyor. His wife Mary Elizabeth Hughes aged 42 and their 9 (nine) children – Ada Hughes aged 21, a Dress Milliner, Florence Hughes aged 16, Edward Norman Hughes aged 14, a Telegraph Messenger, Eva Hughes aged 11, Tudor Foulkes Hughes aged 10, Henry Tudor Hughes aged 9, Trevor Hughes aged 5, George Stuart Hughes aged 3 and Mary Elizabeth Hughes aged 3 months.
On 29 October 1905, Henry who was now living at 8 Aquarium Street, Rhyl married Margaret Elizabeth Morris of Morfa Bach, Rhyl at Holy Trinity Church, Russell Road Rhyl.
By 1911 Henry and Margaret had moved to 11 William Street, Rhyl and had three children – Norman Telford Hughes aged 5, Mabel Eleanor Hughes aged 3 and Albert Hughes aged 11 months.
On Friday 26 April 1912, Henry emigrated to Canada with his brother George Stuart Hughes They sailed from Liverpool, England aboard S.S. Virginian. arriving in Grosse Isle, Quebec at 2am on 6 May 1912. Henry obtained employment as a Plumber. His wife Margaret and their children followed him to Canada arriving in Quebec on 7 August 1913. They initially resided with Henry’s sister Eva and her husband Vernon Rhydwen Jones before eventually moving to live at 260 Royal Avenue, West Kildonan, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
On Friday 15 January 1915, he enlisted as a Soldier with 27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). His Attestation Record describes him as 31 years of age, 5’9″ tall, Chest Measurement 36″, Expansion 2″. His physical development was described as good and he was passed fit for military service.
Family photograph, Henry Telford Hughes , son Norman Telford Hughes, wife Margaret Hughes, daughter Mabel Eleanor Hughes and sons Albert Hughes and Robert Bennett Hughes. This was the last photograph of Sergeant Hughes before he left Canada for the Western Front.
Sergeant Henry Telford Hughes
Canadian Pacific telegram sent from Ottawa August 20, 1918 to M. E. Hughes at 260 Royal Avenue, West Kildonan, Winnipeg, Manitoba 10019. Deeply regret to inform you 622079 Private Henry Telford Hughes, Infantry officially reported killed in action August 9, 1918.
My thanks to Carole Smythe, North Vancouver, B.C. for providing the above two photographs of her Grandfather and family and for further information which has enabled me to update this page.
On Saturday 4 December 1915 the following article appeared in the Rhyl Journal.
‘Five Brothers with the Colours’. ‘Mrs Jones. 26 Vale Road, Rhyl, daughter of the late Mr Robert Hughes, for many years town surveyor of Rhyl, has received news that her youngest brother, Private George Hughes of the Winnipeg Rifles, who was severely wounded on the Western Front, is now making good progress towards recovery. He is at present in hospital in the South of England. He is one of five brothers who answered their country’s call on the outbreak of the war, two of whom had previously served in the Boar War. His eldest brother, Signaller Norman Hughes also of the Canadian Force, has also been badly wounded, and is at present in Canada again. Private Trevor Hughes is at the front with the Welsh Guards, serving as a Sniper and yet another brother, Sergeant Henry Hughes, is with the Canadian Contingent at present stationed in this country. The other brother Private Tudor Foulkes Hughes of Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, was killed in action last May. The brothers Norman and Tudor went through the Boar War’
‘The Casualty List Rhyl Paper 1918’. ‘News has been received that Sergeant Henry Telford Hughes, Canadian Infantry, was killed in action in France on 9 August, 1918. He was the fourth son of Mr Robert Hughes, for many years town surveyor of Rhyl, and a brother of Mrs Jones. 26 Vale Road, Rhyl. He leaves a wife and four children who reside at West Kildonan, Manitoba. He was one of five brothers who voluntarily joined the colours on the outbreak of the war. He is the second to make the supreme sacrifice, the first being Tudor who was killed in May 1915. His brother Norman has been discharged as a result of wounds, while Trevor and George are still serving in France. The late Sergeant Hughes, who was 34 years of age, was for some time on the staff of the Rhyl Gas and Water Engineer. He was badly wounded in France two or three years ago and for some time after that served as a bombing instructor in this country.’
Vimy Memorial.
His brother, Tudor Foulkes Hughes name also appears on the Rhyl War Memorial as does his brother-in-law Vernon Rhydwen Jones (44th Battalion Canadian Infantry, who was killed in action on Saturday 31 March 1917)..
Sergeant Henry Telford Hughes is also remembered on the Remembrance Plaque in the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl. On a plaque at St Thomas Church, Rhyl and in Canada on a plaque at St Anne’s Anglican Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Books of Remembrance located in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa bear the names of all Canadians who died in the Great Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 and has Henry Telford Hughes listed on Page 433 of the First World War. The Canadian Memorial United Church at 1811 W. 16th. Ave. Vancouver, B.C. has replicas of these books.
Christ Church Memorial Plaque, Rhyl, Flintshire.
There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for him at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, Flintshire which is dated 10 November 1919 and sighed O. Roberts.
Flintshire Memorial Card.