Michael Hughes likeness

Michael Hughes cap badgeAble Seaman Michael Hughes

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 6th "Howe Battalion" 63rd (Royal Naval) Division
Service No: Clyde Z/6781

Michael Hughes grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of James and Mary Ann McLean Hughes of 42 Academy St, Coatbridge. Michael had 4 brothers also serving. His older brother Able Seaman Francis Hughes of the "Hawke" Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Died of Wounds on the 22/04/1917, a day before he died. They both fell at the start of the Battle of Arras and are both listed on the Arras Memorial. Michael's 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 / 31 Buchanan St, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 23/04/1917 at the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe (part of the Battle of Arras)

Enlisted

Glasgow 23/10/1915

Employed

Iron Worker in the Horse Shoe Works.

Age

21 / DOB - 28/01/1896

Buried / Remembered

Arras Memorial (Bay 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 "Howe" Battalion were part of the 3rd (Royal Marine) Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. On the day of Michael's 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. The Arras offensive, 1917 (Battle of Arras) : 9th April -16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive: the battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. Michael's records state - Enlisted 23/101915 - Draft for MEF 16/02/1916 Joined Howe Battalion - 19/04/1916 till 11/10/1916, Pyrexia (fever). Re-joined Howe Battalion 26/11/1916 till time of death. In October he and his brother Francis enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve but were posted to the Infantry Division made up of excess Naval recruits. See Directory for Michael's older brother Francis' page. Michael and his 4 brothers are remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) and St. Patrick's Church (book) Rolls of Honour. See photos for Michael's Newspaper clippings x 3, his Naval Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Arras Memorial Panel List, his name on the Arras Memorial, the Howe Battalion Cap Badge and Michael's Pension Records x 4 (Michael's Pension was awarded to his father James of 62 Buchanan St, Coatbridge and his sister Mrs Bridget McLean of 104 Buchanan St, Coatbridge on the 20/12/1917).

Photos
Michael Hughes newspaper clippingMichael Hughes newspaper clippingMichael Hughes newspaper clippingMichael Hughes remembered at homeMichael Hughes additional photoMichael Hughes additional photoMichael Hughes additional photoMichael Hughes additional photoMichael Hughes additional photoMichael Hughes additional photoMichael Hughes additional photoMichael Hughes additional photo

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