Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

ROLL OF HONOUR.
HUGHES.—Thomas Hughes, leading signalman, late of H.M.A.S. Sydney, died suddenly March 5, 1916, at his mother's residence, ,147 King-street, Plymouth, England.
Thy will be done.
Inserted by his loving wife and daughters, 121 Hereford-street, Forest Lodge, Sydney. All papers please copy.
The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 March 1916. (nla.gov.au) (nla.gov.au)

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 5th March…… Thomas Hughes was born on 7th January, 1875 in Plymouth, Devon, England.
He joined the Royal Navy in 1890 as a 15 year old Bar Boy. Thomas Hughes was given a service number of 155019 (Devonport).

Thomas Hughes was posted to H.M.S. Impregnable (a Training ship docked at Devonport, England) as Boy Class II from 5th May, 1890.

The 1891 England Census listed Thomas Hughes as a 16 year old crew of Royal Navy - H.M.S. Impregnable.
Boy Class II Thomas Hughes was promoted to Boy Class I on 21st May, 1891 while still serving in H.M.S. Impregnable. He was promoted to Signalman on 7th January, 1893.

He signed on with The Royal Navy on 7th January, 1893, at the age of 18 years, for a period of 12 years.
Signalman Thomas Hughes was promoted to Leading Signalman on 1st June, 1893 while serving in H.M.S. Anson.

(Note : not all the ships that Thomas Hughes served in have been listed in this summary – please see full research for all the vessels he served in)
Thomas Hughes married Mary Rawlings in the June quarter, 1900 in the district of Plymouth, Devon, England.

The 1901 England Census listed Thomas Hughes as a 26 year old, married Signalman in the Royal Navy. Thomas Hughes and his wife – Mary Hughes (aged 29, born Plymouth, Devon) were living in a 1 roomed dwelling at 4 Harwell Street, Plymouth, Devon, England. Also listed was Thomas Hughes’ step-daughter – Bessie Rawlings (aged 7, born Saltash, Cornwall). There were 4 households listed at the same address.

A birth was registered in the December quarter, 1901 in Plymouth for Clara Lavinia Hughes, daughter of Thomas & Mary Hughes.

The 1911 England Census listed Thomas Hughes as a 36 year old, married, Leading Signalman (Executive) on H.M.S. Cornwallis, which was located in the Mediterranean at the time of the Census on 2nd April, 1911. His religion was listed as Church of England.

Thomas Hughes signed on with Royal Australian Navy, on loan from Royal Navy, for a period of 3 years from 1st March, 1913. Thomas Hughes was 5ft 5 ¾ in, with brown hair, brown eyes & a fresh complexion, He had a tattoo of his right forearm of clasped hands & heart. On his left forearm was a rose. Thomas Hughes was given a service number of 7910 & his next-of-kin was listed as his wife – Mary Hughes of 18 Creek St, Forest Lodge, Sydney, NSW. Her later addresses were listed as 13 Water Street. Camperdown, Sydney, NSW; 10 Park Avenue, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW; c/- Mrs Denison East Glendon, Glendon Brook via Singleton, NSW.

On 1st March, 1913 Leading Signalman Thomas Hughes was reported as being transferred to London Depot. He was transferred to H.M.A.S. Sydney on 27th June, 1913 then transferred to H.M.A.S. Australia on 25th March, 1914. Leading Signalman Thomas Hughes was transferred back to H.M.A.S. Sydney on 29th May, 1914.

Leading Signalman Thomas Hughes died on 5th March, 1916 at 147 King Street, Plymouth, Devon, England (his mother’s residence) from Pneumonia.

He was buried in Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon, England – Plot number Church HA. 5. 3. and has a Private Headstone. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Leading Signalman T. Hughes is commemorated on the Roll of Honour, located in the Hall of Memory Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia on Panel 1.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/ford-park.html