Thomas Hughes (VC)
| Thomas Hughes | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 30, 1885 Castleblayney, County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Died | January 8, 1942 (aged 56) Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Buried at | Broomfield, County Monaghan |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | Connaught Rangers |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Thomas Hughes VC (30 May 1885 – 8 January 1942) was a British Army soldier, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces, during the First World War.
[edit] Biography
Hughes was born 30 May 1885 in Corravoo near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
He was 31 years old, and a private in the 6th Battalion, The Connaught Rangers, British Army during the First World War.
On 3 September 1916 at Guillemont, France, Private Hughes was wounded in an attack but returned at once to the firing line after having his wounds dressed. Later, seeing a hostile machine-gun, he dashed out in front of his company, shot the gunner and, single-handed, captured the gun. Though again wounded, he brought back three or four prisoners.
He later achieved the rank of corporal. He died in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, 8 January 1942, aged 56. He is buried in the cemetery attached to St Patrick's Roman Catholic church in Broomfield, near Castleblayney, in Co Monaghan.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum (Chelsea, England).
[edit] References
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword XVI (64): 185–287.
- Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Co. Monaghan, Ireland)
