SAPPER LESLIE JAMES HUGHES
2818 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Wallaroo, South Australia was stated as the birthplace of Leslie James Hughes on February 23, 1895 the son of William James and Harriet (nee Salmon) Hughes. It was officially recorded as Kadina and registered at Daly, South Australia. He had no military training as it was an exempt area. When aged seventeen years the following was reported in:
It appears that he joined the navy soon after but deserted and the following was published in the Police Gazette:
He was working at Wilcannia, New South Wales before deciding to enlist.
At the recruiting depot at Broken Hill, New South Wales on February 18, 1916 the twenty-one year old labourer applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination he was described on enlistment as 175cms (5ft 9ins) tall, weighing 60.4kgs (133lbs) with a chest measurement of 88cms (34½ins). Complexion was dark with his blue eyes testing to good vision and had dark brown hair. Distinctive marks were a vaccination scar on his left arm and a scar on the right cheek. Religion was Church of England. In lieu of Next-of-kin he nominated Miss May Curtis of Wilcannia, N.S.W. He was sworn in on February 24 at Broken Hill.
Basic training commenced with ‘B Coy’ 2nd Depot Battalion from February 24 for five days then on March 1, 1916 was transferred to the Engineers’ camp at Mitcham, S.A. and allotted to the 11th Field Engineers. On March 16 was placed with the Base Engineers then re-allotted to the February Reinforcement to the Mining Corps on March 31, 1916 and transferred to the 3rd Military District where they joined the 3rd Reinforcements on April 2, 1916 for departure. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 2818.
Eighty members of the Reinforcements departed on transport HMAT A14 Euripides from Melbourne, Vic on April 4, 1916. During their voyage a port of call for refuelling was Colombo, Ceylon and terminated at the Suez about May 5 where the men were transhipped at Alexandria to the City of Edinburgh. They disembarked at Marseilles, France on May 17, 1916 and on June 1, 1916 marched into the Base Depot at Etaples and taken on strength on June 23, 1916.
Sapper Hughes’ civil experience in mining was more beneficial to serve with the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company therefore was taken on strength with this company on October 3, 1916.
On November 12, 1916 he was temporarily attached to the 2nd Army Workshops in Bailleul which was operated by the 1 / 2 Cornwall Army Troop Company, Royal Engineers and rejoined his unit on November 22.
He went sick to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station on December 27, 1916 and admitted with D.A.H. (disordered action of heart) and returned to his unit three days later.
On January 30, 1917 he went sick to the 134th Field Ambulance with Bronchitis moving to the 3rd Canadian Hospital in Boulogne on February 2. He was conveyed to England on February 15 on the hospital ship St Denis with laryngitis and bronchitis and admitted the next day in the Horton County of London War Hospital.
Miss M. Curtis of Wilcannia, NSW was regretfully advised on March 2, 1917 by Base Records that Sapper Hughes had been admitted to hospital in England and gave his postal address for correspondence. Miss Curtis replied from the Globe Hotel, Wilcannia, NSW on March 7 to Base Records thanking them for the information and his present address.
He was discharged to furlough on April 10 and report on April 25 to the No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs and marched in from Headquarters as ordered. While at the Command Depot disciplinary action was taken for the following:
Offence: Perham Downs 24/5/17 Absent without Leave from 5am 24/5/17 till 12.45pm 28/5/17 neglecting to obey Routine Orders para bounds being in Weyhill after hours without a pass
Award: 4 day’s F.P. No. 2 [field punishment] by Lt Col Knox 1/6/17
In custody awaiting trial 3 days
Total forfeiture: 12 day’s pay
Crime: Absenting himself without leave from Draft after having been duly
warned 4/6/17
Award: 120 hours in detention by Lt Col Knox 5/6/17
Total forfeiture: £1/5.
He departed the Hardening and Drafting Depot for Southampton on June 10, 1917 to proceed overseas to France arriving at the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles the following day. After being invalided in England he returned to his unit on June 27, 1917.
It appears that during his time recuperating in England he met Daisy Agneta Rosamund Keel. In 1911 the Keel family were living at 94 High Street, Andover and citizens of the household were Rowland (47) upholsterer, his wife Mary J. (nee Pope) (47) and children Gerty (21), Vera (20), Leonard (16), Daisy (14), Rupert (12), Leslie (10, Hetty (6) and Douglas (2).
At the Registry Office in Andover, Southampton on September 21, 1917 Sapper Leslie James Hughes (21) a soldier with the A.I.F. was married by License to Daisy Agneta Rosamund Keel (20) spinster daughter of Rowland Keel, upholsterer. The ceremony was performed by the Registrar, Thomas Edgar Longman. Both gave their address as 96 High Street, Andover.
Daisy was now his next-of-kin and her address was 122 Barnwell Road, Brixton, London, S.W. 2 and later it changed to 79 Blackfriars Road, Blackfriars, London. It was noted that no Will had been held on November 13, 1917.
A daughter named Phyllis Lesley Joan Hughes was born to the couple in December, 1917 in Lambeth, Surrey.
Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for serving twelve months abroad.
Mrs Hughes advised on March 1, 1918 that her address was 94 & 96 High Street, Andover.
He proceeded on leave on March 13 and rejoined the unit on March 28, 1918.
Base Records received a letter dated June 1, 1918 from Mr W.J. Hughes care of Mrs Cliff Bussenschutt in Paskeville, S.A. requesting the whereabouts of L.J. Hughes. He stated he didn’t know where he enlisted but heard he was in Mitcham camp at Easter, 1916. If he was married perhaps they could give them his wife’s address as his father was inquiring. Base Records replied on June 11, 1918 stating that they had no official report of any description received on Sapper Hughes therefore it was assumed he was with his unit. His present address was included for correspondence. The officer presumed that this soldier was identical with his son who had enlisted at Broken Hill on February 24, 1916 giving his occupation as labourer and born at Wallaroo, S.A. His wife was residing at 22 Barnwell Road, Brixton, London, S.W. 2 England.
While remaining on strength with the Alphabetical Company he did service with the 2nd Section of the 39th Division, Royal Engineers and returned to his unit on August 31, 1918.
On October 3, 1918 he went for treatment to the N.Z. Stationary Hospital for dental caries and returned to rejoin his unit on October 8 but was readmitted the same day for myalgia (muscular pain). A transfer took place by ambulance train on October 24 to the 30th General Hospital in Calais for myalgia and five days later entered the Aust Convalescent Depot and the following day went to the 1st Aust Base Depot in Havre.
He was in the Convalescent Depot when Peace was declared. The company remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and supply and service small engines and pumps for water supplies for those rehabilitating their districts.
Leave was granted from January 28, 1919 and he returned to the Convalescent Depot on February 11. On February 15, 1919 he was discharged to the A.G.B.D. He rejoined his unit on February 20 and was taken on strength a day later.
Orders were received to prepare to demobilise on March 26, 1919 and return to the Aust Infantry Base Depot in Havre where they marched out on April 2 and crossed the English Channel arriving at the No. 3 Group in Codford. On April 24 Sapper left for Sutton Veny joining the No. 2 Group.
On May 16, 1919 he was admitted to the 1st Aust General Hospital with P.U.O. (pyrexia (fever) uncertain origin) and discharged to the Training Depot on May 26.
On June 4 he marched out to return to the No. 3 Group at Codford
While at Codford he appeared before the Medical Board on July 10, 1919 and his description at the time of the report shows his occupation as a farmer enlisting in Sydney and stood 182cms (5ft 11ins) tall with scars on the right wrist, side of face and left leg. His disability was nil with his present condition good and medical classification given as H1 and declared fit for service. He had been listed to return to Australia on the troopship H.T. Friedrichsruh departing on July 8, 1919.
Going before the Medical Board on August 24, 1919 he was described in the report as being a labourer enlisting as Wilcannia standing 182cms (5ft 11½ins) tall with distinctive marks of a scar on the right cheek, two on the left leg, one on the right wrist and right foreleg. His present condition was given as good and fit for general service.
On September 2, 1919 arrangements were begun to be discharged in London, England on October 25, 1919 having been demobilised with effect after serving three years and 207 days. All active and deferred pay over and above £39 sterling was received that day. His intended address was 94 High Street, Andover. He had received no wounds and was entitled to four Blue Chevrons and the War Medal. There was no issue of the War Badge.
For serving his country Sapper 2818 Leslie James Hughes, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued with the British War Medal (3296) and the Victory Medal (3296). The Victory Medal was inscribed and issued from Australia House, London
He wrote from 96 French Street, Pier End, Southampton to the Officer in Charge of War Records in Adelaide on December 19, 1922 requesting the dates of leave he had in England including from and to. He believed there were three altogether as he wanted them as a witness to his marriage in England. He would be very obliged and hoped this was the right address, if not please address it to the correct destination. Keswick Barracks, Adelaide (4th Military District) replied on February 10, 1923 that his letter had been received but added that the information he desired was not available at their office. On February 1, 1923 they forwarded his letter to Base Records as they had nothing of that nature held at their office.
On April 4, 1923 he wrote to Base Records in Sydney, NSW from the same address in Southampton requesting his dates of attending and returning from leave as some trouble had arisen from those times. On June 6, 1923 his letter was forwarded to Base Records in Melbourne for attention. The Records Office replied on June 20, 1923 stating that the records had been ascertained of his leave of absence in England:
10.4.17 until 25.4.17
14.3.18 until 28.3.18
27.1.19 until 13.2.19
The writer noted from a copy of his extract of Marriage showing he was married in England on September 21, 1917 but there was no record of him being on leave during the month of September.
The War Medal was returned unclaimed to Base Records in Melbourne from Australia House, London on July 30, 1946.
Daisy A.R. Hughes died in June 1956 in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England aged 57 years.
Their daughter Phyllis Lesley Joan Hughes died in June, 1941 at Andover, Hampshire.
Leslie James Hughes passed away in March, 1979 aged 84 years in the district of Sedgemoor, Somerset.
© Donna Baldey 2014
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