Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 62687 John Wynne Hughes

Age: 22
From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
Regiment: 19 LANCS FUSILS
Died on Thursday 21st November 1918
Commemorated at: Tourgeville Mc
Panel Ref: VII.B.9

John Wynne Hughes was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, early in 1896, the son of John Wynne (or William, records vary) Hughes and his wife Elizabeth Ann (née Turvey). Ancestry trees show his birthdate as 02nd February 1896. His father, born in Holywell, and his mother, born in Rock Ferry, married in a civil ceremony in 1894.

John was the second of nine children, and the eldest son; he was known as Jack. He had an older sister Margaret, younger sisters Gladys and Gwendoline, and younger brothers George, Edwin, Herbert and Ronald. Another sister, Elizabeth, died in infancy. The family moved from Birkenhead to Liverpool in about 1897.

In 1901 the family is living at 99 Burleigh Road, Everton, with three children. His father is a chemist’s manager, Margaret is 6, John is 5, and George is 1.

By 1911 they have moved to 37 Albany Road, Kensington, Liverpool and have eight children at home. His father is aged 51, a chemist’s dispenser, his mother is 40. Margaret, 16, is a draper’s apprentice, John is 15, employed as a junior clerk/office boy in a caterer’s. George is 11, Gwladys 9, Edwin 8, Gwendoline 6, Herbert 5, and Ronald is 2. (The family lives next door to the Schofields whose son Charles, 23979 20th Bn, was two years older than John, and was killed at Guillemont on 30/7/1916.)

John enlisted in Liverpool as Private 22893, joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. Unfortunately, his service record has not survived so the details are not known, but based on the amount of the War Gratuity, he served for over four years, and enlisted in November 1914.

Formed in November 1914, the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

The battalion saw action at the Somme in 1916.

At some point, John was transferred to the 11th Battalion K.L.R. and subsequently to the 19th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers, with the regimental number 62687.

John was wounded in action and died of his wounds on 21st November 1918 at Trouville Hospital in France. Trouville-sur-Mer is on the coast not far from Le Havre, which suggests John was to be evacuated to the U.K.

CWGC gives his age as 23, but from the birth registration he would have been 22, which agrees with the age stated in the family newspaper notice.

John now rests in Tourgeville Military Cemetery, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“IN LOVING MEMORY FROM ALL AT HOME

PEACE PERFECT PEACE”

The 14th Convalescent Depot was at Trouville in October 1917 and the Trouville Hospital Area - which later comprised the 72nd, 73rd and 74th General Hospitals, and the 13th, 14th and 15th Convalescent Depots - was established in February 1918.

Tourgeville Military Cemetery contains 210 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 13 from the Second World War. There are also 90 German graves and two non war burials.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Notices were placed in the Liverpool Echo on 25th November 1918:

“November 21, of wounds, at Trouville Hospital, France, aged 22 years, Private John Wynne Hughes, Lancashire Fusiliers (late “Pals”), eldest son of J. W. and E. A. Hughes, 37 Albany Road, Kensington, Liverpool. (Deeply mourned).”

“November 21, died of wounds, Private John W. Hughes, the dear friend of Mrs. Schofield and family. (One of the bravest.) Ever remembered by all at 35 Albany Road, Kensington.”

“November 21, died of wounds at Trouville Hospital, France, Pte. J. W Hughes (Jack), late “Pals”. - Sadly missed by May and all at 8, Lowther Street, Liverpool.”

John earned his three medals. His mother, living at 37 Albany Road, Kensington, Liverpool, received John’s Army effects of £44-11s-11d, as well as a War Gratuity of £23-10s, and a pension of 8/- a week. His mother appears to have lived a long life, and lived through WW2.

His father died just weeks after his son’s death, in February 1919, aged 60.

John is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 56.

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

Killed On This Day.

(110 Years this day)
Saturday 28th October 1916.
2nd Lieutenant Ernest Bailey
24 years old

(110 Years this day)
Saturday 28th October 1916.
2nd Lieutenant Stafford Thomas Eaton-Jones
20 years old

(110 Years this day)
Saturday 28th October 1916.
2nd Lieutenant Ronald Hamilton William Murdoch
21 years old

(110 Years this day)
Saturday 28th October 1916.
2nd Lieutenant James Stewart
39 years old

(109 Years this day)
Sunday 28th October 1917.
Serjeant 38645 John McGlashan
32 years old

(108 Years this day)
Monday 28th October 1918.
Pte 12056 Sandford Woods
30 years old

(108 Years this day)
Monday 28th October 1918.
Rifleman 22814 Charles Reginald Pollington
30 years old