Walter Stanley Hughes was born on 26 April 1881 at Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, North Wales. He was Baptised in St. Peter’s Church, Liverpool on 6 January 1882.
The 1891 Census shows that the family lived at 17 Elwy Street, Rhyl, Flintshire. The head of the family was Alfred William Hughes aged 42, an Organist and Teacher of Music, later to become a Professor of Music. His wife Georgina Hughes aged 35 and their three children – Walter Stanley Hughes aged 9, Mabel Hughes aged 7 and Dora Hughes aged 2 years.
The family later moved to 7 Clwyd Street, Rhyl, Flintshire.
Walter married Louisa Perry in Hawarden, Flintshire on 15 February 1913 and they had a daughter who was born the same year, Mona Ann Hughes. The family lived at 72 Jubilee Street, Shotton, Flintshire. Walter was employed as a Butler.
On Monday 7 September 1914, Walter enlisted at Hightown Barracks, Wrexham with 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. His Attestation Records show that he was 29 years 4 months old, 5′ 9 1/4 tall, weighed 145 lbs, chest measurement 38″ with a 3″ expansion. He had brown eyes, black hair and was passed fit for Military Service.
As a result of his past military service he was given the rank of Corporal, but he never served overseas. On Saturday 6th February 1915 he was found to be medically unfit for military service. Some days later he died at 7 Clwyd Street, Rhyl, the cause of death being recorded as Tuberculosis of the lung.
His Pension Records state : Corporal 13771 Walter Stanley Hughes was discharged on 5 February 1915, the cause being Tuberculosis of lung. For some time before discharge he had been under observation, his history giving loss of weight and shortness of breath in exertion. As there was, for some time, nothing definite to be found in his chest, as his heart was sound and there apparently no cause for his symptoms, these were put down to pernicious anaemia, but no blood count was taken. In January however he showed definite patches of tubercle in his lung which rapidly got worse. He was under observation for three weeks before being discharged.
He is remembered on -The Hawarden War Memorial, A Remembrance Plaque at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire and on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.
There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for Walter Stanley Hughes at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, Flintshire, which is dated 6 September 1919 and signed J Hughes.