Thomas's Story.
Thomas Hughes was born on the 1st September 1888 in Birkenhead to parents Thomas, a saddler, and Margaret.In the 1891 census, the family were recorded at 84 Bentick Street, Birkenhead, where Thomas lived with his older brother and sister. By 1901 they were still at the same address, and the household had grown with the arrival of three more children — two sons and a daughter.
The 1911 census showed that the family had moved to 3, Sun Street, Birkenhead. Thomas’ occupation was recorded as a clerk to a Brewer with the Yates Brewery Company.
With the First World War in its second year, Thomas enlisted on the 15th November 1915 at Birkenhead into the 14th battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, which was at the time a reserve battalion. He was mobilised on 29th February 1916 and sent to France four months later arriving on the 16th July. He was finally posted to the 10th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment.
At the beginning of February 1917, the battalion were in the line near to the Belgian village of Ploegsteert. Training and preparations were also made for a trench raid to take place on the 17th.
To read more about the raid on the 17th February see here
It was during this raid that Private Thomas Hughes was killed. Sadly, his body was never recovered or identified and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Research and Thomas Hughes’ photograph by Chris Booth