Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Stanley Hughes served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 198, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer War. Second service was as a Private S.N. 2330, 34th Infantry Battalion AIF, WW1.

He was living and working in Townsville when he first enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI. When his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private J. S. Hughes, single, c/- I. K. Montague, Mansions, Portland Square, London W. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 54, notes he was discharged in South Africa on 30 Sep 1900. It appears he later returned to England.

He was married and back in Australia at Narrabri, N.S.W. working as a journalist/editor of The Dubbo Liberal prior to the outbreak of WW1. By 1915 he had relocated his family to Sydney when he enlisted at Casula for WW1. On his Attestation Paper, dated 3 Dec 1915, it was noted that; he was born at St Pancras, London and he was 42 years 5 months of age; he was married and a journalist; his N.O.K. was his wife Jessie Sophia Hughes, Woollarah, Sydney, NSW; and he had previously served in the British South African Coy's Police and in the 1st QMI Boer War.

John Stanley Hughes was born on 12 Jun 1863 at St Pancras, London, England, a son to Thomas Hughes and Emma Hughes. He married Jessie Sophia Johnston in 1906 at Hendon, Middlesex, England and they had at least 2 children.

He returned from WW1 to Sydney where he was discharged on 30 Nov 1917 and continued working as a journalist until about 1930 when he retired and returned to England. When he passed in England in 1933 an obitury was published by the newspaper in Dubbo that he once worked for, as transcribed below.

The Last Post. Capt. J. S. Hughes- The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, 20 May 1933, p. 1.

From "The Frontier Post," the official gazette of the Legion of Frontiersmen, published in Little London, Chichester, the following obituary is taken. Mr. Hughes was for many years editor of "The Dubbo Liberal," and had many friends in the West. His death was announced some months ago:-

We regret to announce the death of Captain John Stanley Hughes, aged 69, at Porchester Terrace, London, on December 22, 1932, after an operation.

Born on June 12, 1863, he was educated at Charterhouse, and went out to Australia, where he followed an adventurous career on sheep and cattle stations; prospecting; mining; and farming. In 1890-91, he was in South Africa, serving in the B.S.A. Police in the Mashunaland, Expedition. Later he returned to Australia, but when the Boer War broke out, he joined the 1st Queensland Contingent (Mounted), and went back to South Africa. He took part in the famous "Kimberley Ride" to the Relief of Kimberley, and served in many actions. After the war he took up a literary career in England, and later in Australia. While he was at Narrabri, N.S.W., he raised and organised a squadron of the Legion at that town. On the outbreak of the Great War, he did splendid service in enlisting men in the Legion, who were attached to the 7th Australian Light Horse. Although well over the age limit, he himself managed to join up in the Australian Imperial Forces, and served two years in France with the 34th Battalion. He returned to Australia invalided and resumed his literary and journalistic work. About three years ago, he returned home to England to retire. He was formerly Captain of the Cranbrook Squadron of the Legion, and was also one of the first Scoutmasters in England. Once again the Legion mourns the loss of a real Frontiersman and soldier, and our sympathy goes out to Mrs. Stanley Hughes on her sad Bereavement.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 452; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 54; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).