Robert Edward HUGHES

Service Number:	44897
Enlisted:	Not yet discovered
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR)
Born:	Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia , 31 July 1950
Home Town:	Port Augusta, Port Augusta, South Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Soldier
Died:	Died of wounds, South Vietnam, 22 April 1970, aged 19 years
Cemetery:	Stirling North Cemetery (Port Augusta), S.A. Centennial Park - South Australian Garden of Remembrance, Garden of Remembrance,
Memorials:	Adelaide Pathway of Honour - 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment , Adelaide Post Second World War Memorial, Adelaide Vietnam War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Grafton Clarence Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Kallangur Vietnam Veterans' Place, Pooraka War Memorial, Port Augusta RSL Hall Circular Honour Roll, Port Augusta Stirling North Vietnam Memorial, Port Pirie Vietnam Veterans Honour Wall, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Roll of Honour, Sydney 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment Vietnam Killed on Active Service Plaque, Wollongong Vietnam Memorial

Vietnam War Service

16 Feb 1970:	Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 44897
Date unknown:	Involvement Private, 44897, 7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR)
Date unknown:	Involvement

The death of Robert Hughes

44897 Private Robert Edward (Bob) Hughes was born in Goulburn New South Wales on the 31st July 1950.
Hughsey travelled to Vietnam, along with most of the Battalion, on the HMAS Sydney. Rifle and machine gun shooting was continually practised during the voyage.
He served in Vietnam with the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, from the 16th February 1970 until his death on the 22nd April 1970.

… the fatal action in Vietnam …
A section of 4 Platoon, which had been in reserve, was ordered to assault the bunkers to allow the company to withdraw its wounded. Private Bob Hughes was mortally wounded at this stage. Second Lieutenant Metcalf recalled: "Bob was almost behind me by about 15 feet when the VC fired an RPG at me. I didn't see the rocket coming but distinctly remember the deafening explosion and the kick in the arse when the shrapnel hit me. Unfortunately for Hughesy, the rocket hit a tree just above me and to my rear, sending most of the shrapnel straight forward towards him. A few moments later we were almost all out of ammunition and I then decided to withdraw, as we had little choice with only nine of us and virtually no ammo left. Also we had no radio as that was with the rest of the Platoon which, at the Company Commander's insistence, was back guarding Company HQ, I was therefore unable to provide any directions to the gunships on station which had ceased their covering fire once we commenced our assault. Since we had by this time expended almost one complete first line in an assault of no more than 50 yards, the VC must have thought they were being attacked by a complete company!
Thus, having got no closer than 30 yards to the nearest bunker, we withdrew. As we came back we found Hughesy lying unconscious with a small wound directly between and slightly above his eyes. I picked him up and carried him back. At no stage did he recover consciousness. He was medevaced a little later helicopters which came to bring us in some more ammo. His death had a profound effect on the rest of the platoon. When I returned to Australia I made contact with his family and still correspond with his mother. She, like most mothers, took his death very hard and still bears the pain of remembering."
Bob Hughes died of his wounds at 24th US Evacuation Hospital, Long Binh.

All Information was obtained from: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37612984/robert-edward-hughes

Virtual
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