Pte 22123 John Hughes

• Age: 20
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 4th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John was born in the June quarter of 1896 in Liverpool the son of John Hughes and his wife Martha Ann (nee Ellis) who were married on 07th April 1890 at St Paul's Church, Kirkdale. He was baptised on 03rd February 1897 at St Paul's Church, Kirkdale. His siblings were Margaret Ellen, Annie, Walter, Thomas, Florence and Harold. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 12 Lawler Street, Litherland whilst the 1911 Census shows they have moved to 31 Hinton Street, Litherland. John is 15 and shown to be employed as an assistant Grocer.    

John Hughes enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion as Private 22123.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 04th July 1916 aged 20, his body was not recovered from the battlefield and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Misisng of the Somme.  

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Daily Post on 02nd August 1916.

John is also commemorated on the following Memorials

Litherland Civic Memorial

Lander Road School, Litherland

Johnson Brothers Dyers, Bootle 

Litherland Roll of Honour.

We currently have no further information on John Hughes. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.