Pte 16245 Harry Hughes

• Age: 34
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Harry Hughes was born in 1882 in Liverpool and was the son of Welsh parents, John and Margaret Hughes who were married on the 8^th July 1865 at St David, Liverpool. Prior to the outbreak of the war he worked in the Artists Department of Lever Brothers, Port Sunlight. 

The key to this chap is the family notice on 12^th Oct 1917 which gives the address only, 73 Ferndale Rd. 

Electoral roll gives David William and Catherine Davies at this address, and 1921 census expands this further to Catherine Ann b.1880, their son David has mother Hughes. (so his sister) 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 18 Squires St, Toxteth. Father John is aged 48, a railway engine stoker b.Conway, Caernarvon, mother Margaret is aged 49 b.Minffordd, Merionethshire, children born Liverpool, Jane aged 24, William 21 a clerk, John 17 a whitesmiths apprentice, Robert 15 a blacksmiths apprentice, David 13 a scholar, Catherine A. 11 a scholar, and Harry aged 9 a scholar. 

Father died on aged 54 on the 21^st Sept 1897 

The 1901 Census shows the family have moved to 6 River Avon Street, Toxteth.

Widowed mother Margaret is aged 49 b.Sanysarn?, Merionethshire, children William 31 a shipping book keeper, John 27 a brass finisher, David 23 a shipping book keeper, Catherine 21, and Henry aged 19 an apprentice lithographic artist. 

Mother died aged on the 9^th Oct 1903. 

Probate:- 

HUGHES Margaret of River Avon Street, Liverpool widow died 9 October 1903 Administration Liverpool 11 November to William Hughes book keeper. Effects £136 6s 8d. 

The 1911 Census shows Harry as Boarder at 14 King Street, Birkenhead.

The head of the Household is Stephen Whitney aged 77, born 1834 occupation Groceries and Provisions Dealer, born in Alsager, Cheshire. Also at the address is his daughter Grace, aged 37, born 1874 and occupation Housekeeper and she was born in Birkenhead. Harry is aged 29, born 1882 and occupation Lithographic- Artist Soap Manufacture.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 16245 when he died of wounds on the 12th October 1916 aged 34 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Liverpool Echo 12^th Oct 1917 

HUGHES - In affectionate remembrance of Private Harry Hughes, who fell in action October 12, 1916. - 73 Ferndale Road. 

Liverpool Echo 14^th Oct 1918 

HUGHES - In affectionate remembrance of my dear brother Private Harry Hughes, who fell in action at Flers, October 12, 1916. - 73 Ferndale Road. 

He is also commemorated on the Port Sunlight and Lever Brothers Ltd Employees War Memorial.

Soldiers Effects to brother William, no Pension record found. 

We currently have no further information on Harry Hughes, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.