Hughes, Norman

Name of Researcher / Enw’r ymchwylydd: Geoffrey Alexander Mitchell.
Name of Memorial / Enw’r gofeb: Rhyl War Memorial.
Regiment/Catrawd: 5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Service Rank and Number / Rheng gwasanaeth a rhif: Private No. 240562.
Military Cemetery/Memorial / Fynwent milwrol: Jerusalem Memorial.
Ref No Grave or Memorial / Rhif cyfeirnod bedd: Panels 20-22.
Country of Cemetery or Memorial / Gwlad y fynwent neu gofeb: Israel.
Medals Awarded / Medalau a ddyfarnwyd: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Date of Death / Dyddiad Marwolaeth: 26 March 1917
Circumstances of Death / Dyddiad ac amgylchiadau marwolaeth:
Private Norman Hughes aged 27 years, arrived in the Balkans Theatre of War with the Battalion on Sunday 8 August 1915 and was Killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Gaza, Monday 26 March 1917.
(Private Joseph William Butler, Lance Corporal John Richard Lancelot and Lance Sergeant George Davies who are remembered on the Greenfield War Memorial were killed on the same day, as was Private Robert Edwards, who is remembered on the Holywell War Memorial).
Commonwealth War Grave Certificate / Tystysgrif Bedd Rhyfel y GymanwladView certificate

Norman Hughes was born in Rhyl, Flintshire during 1890.

The 1901 Census shows that the family lived at 12 Heywood Street, Ince in Makerfield, Lancashire, England. The head of the family was Robert Hughes aged 36, a Coal Miner. His wife Annie Hughes aged 42 and their four children – Robert David Hughes aged 14, Norman Hughes aged 11, Willie Hughes aged 7 and Annie Hughes aged 7 years.

Little is known of his early life but following the outbreak of the First World War, Norman enlisted with 5th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

On 10 July 1917, a payment of £8.8s.0d was made by the War Office to Mrs Annie Hughes, this being monies owed to her son Norman. On 27 November 1919, a further payment which is recorded as a War Gratuity of £12.0s.0d was also made to her.

Norman is also remembered on a Plaque in the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire and on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.

There is no Flintshire Roll of Honour card for him at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, Flintshire.

Jerusalem Cemetery

Flintshire War Memorials

Hughes, Norman

Learn more about the other soldiers on the Rhyl Memorial