Gunner Jack Hughes- 5115402
26 June 1917 – 30 May 1979
Jack was born to Thomas and Ellen Hughes in West Derby, Liverpool on 26 June 1917. Jack was the third oldest of seven children (Nellie, Thomas, Freddie, Mabel, Lillian and Albert).
Jack’s father Thomas worked as a Dock Labourer for the White Star Line at Liverpool Docks and the family lived at 24 Varthen Street, Liverpool, which today is around 100m from the main entrance to Anfield Stadium.
In 1939, Jack was living with his Brother Thomas with other lodgers at 64 Kings Road, Tyseley, Birmingham where he worked as a Capstan Operator.
In February 1940, Jack signed up with the Warwickshire Regiment and following his basic training, Jack married Mabel Hawkins (a packer at Hughes Biscuit Factory) at St Cuthberts Church, Liverpool on 12th May 1940.
Jack was initially posted to 12th Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment in June 1940. The Regiment was assigned to “Home Duties”, defending the UK from potential invasion.
Jack was first posted to the reservoirs to the west of Sheffield as these were believed to be a potential target.
In November 1940 the regiment deployed to Larne in Northern Ireland. Here the regiment was mainly deployed on guard and air-raid duty, and saw from afar the devastating blitz on Belfast in Easter 1941.
By August, the regiment were deployed to the Shetland Islands to bolster the defences there. A valuable naval port, there were genuine fears that a raid could be launched by the Germans on the islands from Norway.
Before the end of the year, Jack was sent on a 3-month course to Wandsworth Tactical Training Group in London to undergo Motor Mechanic Training, returning to Shetland in January 1942.
12th Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment was disbanded in February 1942; and Jack was transferred to 78th Field Regiment to undergo training as a Gunner between March and May 1942. Following training, he joined the 111th Field Regiment in June 1942 where he remained for the rest of his service until November 1945.
The majority of Jack’s story can be found in the War Diary pages of this website. He had a few stints in Hospital during his time in Africa, Italy and Yugoslavia – the most serious being a shrapnel wound to his right thigh following the explosion of a premature round near Takorouna, Tunisia on 21st April 1943.
The image on the right was taken with an unknown comrade in Foggia, Italy at the end of 1945 before returning home.
When Jack returned home, he lived on Sheldon Heath Road, Birmingham and had 4 children: Carole, Brian, Margaret (Maggie) and Dawn. He worked for a number of years at Wilmot Breeden, a manufacturer of automotive accessories such as wipers, keys and bumpers that were supplied to many vehicle manufacturers.
Maggie said that her dad never spoke about the war other than at one point being in the desert. One of her best memories of her dad growing up was how he would gently and carefully brush her hair as a child.
Jack passed away at the age of 61 from cancer on 30th May 1979.