Francis Hughes likeness

Francis Hughes cap badgeAble Seaman Francis Hughes

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 2nd "Hawke Battalion" 63rd (Royal Naval) Division
Service No: Clyde Z/6893

Francis Hughes grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of James and Mary Ann McLean Hughes of 42 Academy St, Coatbridge. Francis had 4 brothers also serving. His younger brother Able Seaman Michael Hughes of the Howe Battalion RNVR was Killed in Action on the 23/04/1917, a day after he died. Francis' other brothers serving were Sergeant John Hughes of the Highland Light Infantry, Sapper William Hughes of the Royal Engineers and Private Andrew Hughes of the Cyclist Corps. At the time of Francis and Michael's deaths Andrew and 1 other brother lay wounded in Malta. From the 1901 Census - Address - 97 Buchanan St, Coatbridge - James Hughes aged 41, Mary Ann Hughes aged 43, Frank Hughes aged 18, Maggie Hughes aged 17, Helen Hughes aged 15, Andrew Hughes aged 12, John Hughes aged 8, Timothy Hughes aged 6, Michael Hughes aged 4, William Hughes aged 5, lodgers Peter Morris aged 23, John Kerr aged 50, George McPherson aged 61, Maggie McPherson aged 51.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 62 Buchanan St, Coatbridge

Died

Died of Wounds on the 22/04/1917 at the 3rd (RN) Field Ambulance at Arras

Enlisted

Coatbridge 25/10/1915

Employed

Iron Worker in the Dundyvan Iron Works

Age

29 / DOB - 21/01/1888

Buried / Remembered

Arras Memorial (Addenda Panel 1), Pas de Calais, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The MEMORIAL commemorates nearly 35,000 soldiers of the British, South African and New Zealand forces with no known grave. Most of those commemorated were killed in the Battle of Arras, fought between 9 April and 16 May 1917.

Additional Information

The "Hawke" Battalion were part of the 2nd Royal Naval Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. Francis Died of Wounds at the 3rd (RN) Field Ambulance. The day after his death the Battalion was part of the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe (23rd - 24th April 1917), a phase of the Arras Offensive, in which the Division captured Gavrelle. Francis originally enlisted in the Royal Scots Fusiliers in February 1915 but was discharged after 2 weeks. In October he and his brother Michael enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve but were posted to the Infantry Division made up of excess Naval recruits. See Directory for his brother Michael's page. They both fell at the start of the Battle of Arras and are both listed on the Arras Memorial. In 1916 Francis suffered loss of pay and detention on numerous occasions for being absent from parade and other unspecified offences. In November 1916 he suffered Field Punishment No 1 (14 days) for being drunk and leaving his billet without permission. In Field Punishment No 1 the offender was restrained and tied to a fixed object for a maximum of 2 hours a day. This was abolished in 1923. Francis was originally buried beside the Bailleul to Arras road by the Reverend Moore. ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION CASUALTIES - Enlisted 25/10/15 ; 1/11/15 3 days cells low diet (6th Bn. Crystal Palace) ; 28/12/15 21 days detention (6th Bn. Crystal Palace) ; 14/1/16 Drafted to 2nd Reserve Bn. Blandford ; 1/3/16 14 days cells, pay forfeited & pay damages ; 12/6/16 Deprived 6 days pay ; 5/7/16 28 days detention Devonport & to pay damages ; 14/8/16 District Court Martial 84 days detention ; Draft for BEF (released from detention for draft, unexpired sentence 28 days) 9/10/16, joined Hawke Bn. 26/11/16 - 22/4/17 DD. NOTES - 27/11/16 ; 14 days Field Punishment No.1, (1) Absent from 8.15pm muster until 9am 26/11/16. (2) Absent from 9.15am parade ; 26/12/16 21 days Field Punishment No.1, (1) Absent from 8.15pm until apprehended by the MP Drunk about 12 midnight. (2) Leaving his billet without permission. ; 8/6/17 Buried H.I.9.3. Bailleul-Arras Road, by Rev. CWG Moore, Divisional HQ RND. ; An Iron Worker ; b.1889 ; Home address: 62 Buchanan St., Coatbridge ; Mother, Mary Anne Hughes, 15 Coatbank St. (later of 42 Academy St.), Coatbridge. All 5 brothers are listed on the St Augustine's Parish and St Patrick's Churches (books) Rolls of Honour. See photos for Francis' Newspaper clippings x 2, his name on the Arras Memorial Panel List x 4, his Naval Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Arras Memorial, his CWGC Grave Registration, the Hawke Battalion Cap Badge and Francis' Pension Records x 2 (Francis' Pension was originally awarded to his mother Mary Ann of 6 Canal St, Coatbridge. Mary Ann sadly died on the 18/01/1919 and Francis' Pension then went to Miss Margaret Banks of 70d Buchanan St, Coatbridge).

Photos
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