HUGHES, William G

William Hughes was born in Stourbridge and attended Oldswinford C of E School. In 1914 he was living at the back of the Star and Garter and working for Mr Braithwaite of Heath Farm. He enlisted in the Worcesters in March 1916 and joined the 1/8th Battalion in August 1916 at the height of the Battle of the Somme. In the final phase of the battle they were involved in the struggle for the Butte de Warlencourt, the highest part of the Somme battlefield. Then during the winter of 1916-17 they withdrew for training and reinforcements. In February 1917 the thaw started and they came up through the mud to the front line again for a period of four days. German shelling was quite heavy and casualties were taken. Among the four men who were killed was Private William Hughes. He was hit by a shell landing in the trenches. He was 20 years of age and is buried at Assevillers New British Cemetery (5 B 9). His name is not on the Stourbridge Memorial but is commemorated at Oldswinford C of E school.