Pte 49573 George Henry Hughes

• Age: 20
• From: Runcorn, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 2nd July 1917
• Commemorated at: Perth Cem Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: II.A.42

George Henry Hughes was born in 1896 at Runcorn the son of William Andrew and his wife Rebecca (née Marsh) who were married in 1890 in Liverpool, registered at West Derby. He was baptised on the 15th November 1896 at All Saints Church, Runcorn, his father a labourer of 26 Arthur Street. 

The 1901 Census shows George Henry living at 8 Stanley Street, Runcorn. Father William is aged 33, a dock porter born Leebotwood, Church Stretton, Salop, mother Rebecca is aged 36, born Runcorn, children Ethel J. 9, born Liverpool, Andrew 7, born Runcorn, George H. 4, born Runcorn, and Elsie E. 1, born Runcorn. 

The 1911 Census shows George Henry living at 59 High Street Church Stretton Shropshire.  George is living with his grandmother Jane Hughes a widow aged 74, born 1837 occupation laundry work and was born in Salop. Also living at the address are her two daughters Jane aged 48, born 1863 and Martha aged 36, born 1875 who are assisting in the business. George Henry is aged 14, and is an errand boy for a bookseller. Also at the address are Ann Lewis Price, a servant aged 23, born 1888, and three boarders John Thomas Wood, aged 28, born 1883 a drapery clerk, Edward Charles Davies. Aged 31, born 1880 and is a bricklayers labourer and Samuel Davies aged 24, born 1887 a railway ticket collector.

His family are living at 39 Bold Street, Runcorn. His father, William, is aged 43, and a dock labourer, his mother, Rebecca, is aged 47. They advised that they had been married for 20 years, and have had 6 children. Five of their six children are declared in the household; Ethel Jane 19, is a general servant, Andrew aged 17, is at the soap works, Elsie Emma is aged 11, William James is aged 9, and Gladys is aged 3. 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49573.

George was killed in action on the 02^nd July 1917, aged 20.

20th Battalion War Diary – July 1917 

DORMY HOUSE, ZILLEBEKE. 

1st - Enemy Artillery fairly quiet all day. Companies worked on trenches, repairing where BOCHE bombardment had caused damaged, and cleaning them. Patrols reconnoitred enemy wire during the night. 

2nd - Enemy Artillery very active from early morning till late at night, shelling Battalion Sub-sector, ZILLEBEKE Village, and back areas. On account of the close observation exercised by the BOCHE, much of yesterdays work on restoration of trenches was rendered abortive by shell fire, parapets being again breached in several places. 

Information received that a German prisoner, recently captured, states Germans are massing in C 24. for a big attack, to be launched this week.

His death was reported in the Runcorn Weekly News on Friday 03rd August 1917; 

LANCE-CORPORAL GEO H. HUGHES.  

KILLED BY A SHELL. 

The parents of Lance-Corporal George Henry Hughes, who reside in Bold street, Runcorn, have learnt of his death in action in France. The chaplain of his regiment, in forwarding the sad news to his mother, writes: “I am very sorry to have to write to tell you that your son, Private Hughes, has been killed. Death was instantaneous through a shell bursting in the trench. It occurred during the day of July 2nd. He will, as an old comrade and good soldier, be greatly missed by the men in his company, but still more by his relations at home, and especially by you. I pray God that He will give you strength to bear your loss bravely, and that you may be comforted by a firm faith in the life beyond the grave.” 

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Saturday 04th August 1917; 

KILLED. 

Liverpool R. - Gaffkin, 200681, A.; Gouldbourne, 48127, J.; Griffiths. 241238, Cpl. G.; Hughes, 49573, G. H. (Runcorn); Johnson, 51583, H. V.; Roberts, 202845, E.; Taylor, 241249, F. (Formby). 

He earned his two medals. 

His father received his Army effects, Army Pay of £3 16s 11d and a War Gratuity of £8 10s.  His mother was awarded a pension of 12/6 a week from January 1918.  

He now rests at Perth Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium.

The cemetery was begun by French troops in November 1914 (the French graves were removed after the Armistice) and adopted by the 2nd Scottish Rifles in June 1917. It was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery. The cemetery was used for front line burials until October 1917 and contained 130 graves. It was not used again until after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries around Ypres.  There are now 1,426 WW1 Commonwealth burials in the cemetery.

On the 1921 Census at 39 Bold Street, Runcorn, father William is aged 53, a dock labourer on the ship canal, mother Rebecca is aged 57, and daughter Elsie E. is 21, a dress maker. 

His mother died, aged 66, in 1930. 

Her death was reported in the Runcorn Weekly News on Friday 19th September 1930; 

Mrs. R. Hughes, Runcorn 

The funeral of Mrs. Rebecca Hughes, of 39, Bold Street, Runcorn, took place it the Runcorn Cemetery on Sunday. The deceased, who was the wife of Mr. William Hughes, passed away on the previous Thursday at the age of 66 years. Mr. S. Towers, of the Mersey Mission, conducted a short service at the house, and the Rev. F. H. Coveney officiated at the graveside. 

The mourners were: Mr. William Andrew Hughes, husband; Mr. Hughes, son; Miss Elsie Hughes, daughter; Master Harry Hughes and the little Misses Gwen and Gladys Hughes, grandchildren; Messrs. Joseph, Frank, Arthur, and Harry Marsh, brothers; Mrs. M. Houghton, sister; Mrs. H. Marsh, Miss P. Hughes, and Mrs. A. Hughes, sisters-in-law; Messrs. J. Thornton, J. Houghton, William, George, Jack, and Leonard Marsh, nephews; Messrs. Charles and Edgar Wilkinson, cousins Mesdames D. Thornton, Snelgrove, and Greenall, nieces. 

His father died, aged 76, in 1944.  

His death was reported in the Runcorn Weekly News on Friday 16 June 1944; 

HUGHES. Miss E. Hughes and Mr. A. Hughes desire to thank all relatives, friends and neighbours for their kind messages of sympathy and for floral tributes received during their recent sad bereavement; also the Rev. F. H. Coveney. - 39 Bold Street, Runcorn. 

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