Owen Kevin HUGHES

HUGHES, Owen Kevin

Service Numbers: 137, V350789
Enlisted: 21 August 1914, Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 8th Field Company Engineers
Born: Footscray, Victoria, 9 September 1889
Home Town: Footscray, Maribyrnong, Victoria
Schooling: Footscray primary school
Occupation: Plumber & Electrician
Died: Respiratory, Footscray, Victoria (1968), date not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

21 Aug 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Melbourne, Victoria
21 Oct 1914: Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 137, 2nd Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orvieto embarkation_ship_number: A3 public_note: ''
21 Oct 1914: Embarked AIF WW1, Sapper, 137, 2nd Field Company Engineers, HMAT Orvieto, Melbourne
1 Apr 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 137, 8th Field Company Engineers

World War 2 Service

21 Mar 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, V350789

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Biography

Owen serverd with the 2nd field company engineers throughout his tour of Gallipoli, then transfered to the 8th FCE when companys were disolved into others to tackle the western front. Wounded a number of times throughout his involement in the Great war he returned home to settle in Footscray and raise a family.

He then joined the Voluntry defensive force in WW2 and remained a committed servant of the defence of Australia. Owen died in 1968 at his home in Footscray and was buried at the memorial Park, Altona North with his dear wife Mary.

"...137 Second Corporal (2Cpl) Owen Kevin Hughes, 8th Field Company Engineers, of West Footscray, Vic, pictured in front of a tent with his kit visible. An electrician and plumber prior to enlisting on 21 August 1914, Hughes embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Orvieto on 21 October 1914 with the 2nd Field Company Engineers. He returned to Australia on 5 April 1919. This is an example of the so-called 'pregnant' look of Australian servicemen - their pockets were stuffed full with material. British soldiers were not permitted to wear their uniforms the way Australians did." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

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