Trevor Hughes – Military Service (WW2) On 1st September 1939, following an unprovoked attack on Poland, Germany starts World War Two. Two days later, on 3rd September, World War Two in Europe begins when Britain declares war on Germany. Six and a half months later on 15th March 1940, Trevor Hughes (at 4 feet 11¾ inches and weighing 7 stone 6 lbs) was called up to the Infantry Training Centre (I.T.C.) of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers based at the Hightown Barracks in Wrexham. Here Trevor (aged 23 years) undertook his basic training and in May 1940 he helped to erect tents in Wrexham for the troops evacuated from Dunkirk. sick as a dog”, Trevor recalls). On 11th November 1940 Trevor was “taken on strength” (T.O.S.) and posted to HQ Company in Bangor. He was billeted in a hotel in the town, commissioned by the army. In March 1941 Trevor was classified as a Signaller. th
Fusilier Hughes (signaller) th
On 14 /15 October 1940 the 13th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers sailed by boat from Heysham to Bangor, County Down in Northern Ireland (“I was as In the spring of 1941 Belfast suffered a series of bombing raids, which became known as the ‘Blitz of Belfast’. The Page 1 of 7
Trevor Hughes – Military Service (WW2) ‘Easter Raid’ took place on 16th/17th April 1941. Trevor remembers the German planes flying over Bangor and some members of his troop fired Bren light machine guns at the bombers from the roof of the hotel. A stray bomber attacked Bangor, killing five civilians and a land mine was dropped in Bangor Bay. th Members of the 13 From Bangor, Trevor went to Belfast and was billeted in tents erected on the grounds outside the Parliament Buildings at Stormont. Early one morning a bullet came though the tent that Trevor was sleeping in. It turned out to have been shot from one of the other tents (he was unsure if it was accidental or deliberate). Risks were ever present. A fellow fusilier, who was on guard duty at the entrance to the camp, was killed when he was run over by a truck. Trevor had to go on patrols with a stick as there was a shortage of weaponry. He then moved out into the country, where he practiced Morse code and radio communication in the field. He became a Classified Signaller “2‐Year” on 13th February 1942. Whilst out on manoeuvres in Northern Ireland an incident happened that could have had serious consequences. Each soldier had their bayonet in a scabbard hanging from their belt on a canvas ‘frog’. Page 2 of 7
Bayonet & frog Trevor Hughes – Military Service (WW2) Exiting his troop‐carrying truck, Trevor jumped down from the back of the vehicle and his bayonet caught in the gap between the truck body and the open tailgate. He was left dangling in mid‐
air and had to be lifted out by two of his colleagues. On inspection, his bayonet was badly bent and as damage to army property was an offence under the King’s Regulations, Trevor had to face a Regimental Court Marshall. During the formal hearing the Quartermaster Sergeant spoke up for Trevor and said the bayonet could be repaired. As a result, Trevor was not disciplined and once the metal bayonet had been repaired you could not tell it had ever been damaged. Looking after army‐issued personal property was very important. Soldiers would use bayonets to clear chimney stoves but were always careful not to use their own! Trevor had a coat stolen whilst he was in the base café. One of Trevor’s army pals was Bill (William) Parry from Wrexham. Bill walked in his sleep so Trevor and the others in his tent would hide their bayonets under their beds for fear of being stabbed in the night! When collecting his pay Trevor was distinguished from the other troops named “Hughes” by being referred to as “02 Hughes” (“02” from his regimental number: 4199002). His name would be called; he would march to the table – pick up his pay, salute and reverse. Whilst based in Ireland, Trevor spent much of his free time with his fellow signallers: Bill Parry (fusilier), Page 3 of 7
Trevor Hughes – Military Service (WW2) E. C. Revitt (Lance corporal) and R. H. Grainger (Lance corporal). The group made friends with Sally and Joan McCaig (two local teenagers that volunteered in the army café). Trevor and his friends were invited to the McCaig home for meals and they also attended and sang at the local church services. On 14th/15th September 1942 the 13th Battalion left for England. Trevor was posted to West Knighton Camp near Dorchester where he had to practice putting a machine gun together in the dark, and patrolled the coast. He was also posted to Bournemouth and then to Seahouses near Bamburgh, Northumberland (staying in a row of cottages). Revitt, Bill, Trevor & Grainger On 15th April 1943 he had to undergo a session in a “DM” Chamber. “DM” or Adamsite is a sneeze gas that was developed by the United States and used during World War One. It appears as a yellow smoke that irritates eyes, lungs and mucous membranes and causes sneezing, vomiting and acute discomfort in the nose, throat and chest. The only protection is a good mechanical filter (gas mask Page 4 of 7
Trevor Hughes – Military Service (WW2) or respirator). All soldiers had to experience the uncomfortable effects of the gas. Trevor was posted to Dover on the white cliffs of Kent. From here he could see the spark of German guns on the French coast and live shells reached the surrounding area. Because Trevor had done clerical work before the war he was made a Documentation Clerk in the Battalion Orderly Room. On 4th July 1943 he passed his trade test for Clerk Group “C” Class 3 at the Citadel Barracks in Dover. In the run up to D‐Day and the Normandy invasion (6th June 1944), thousands of British and American troops were assembling all over the South of England. Trevor was given the task of typing out the names of the troops and making numerous copies on a Gestetner Duplicating Machine. Only 7 members of his Regiment were selected to remain at home, Trevor was lucky to be one of them. Later, he took down the photographs and plans that were used to show the troops where the landings would take place. From Dover he went to the Sway Camp, Hampshire in readiness for the invasion (Operation Overlord) which would depart from Southampton, Portsmouth and other bases along the south coast. Page 5 of 7
19 August 1944 (Rhyl) Trevor Hughes – Military Service (WW2) On 25th July 1944 Trevor was appointed Lance Corporal. He later went back to Northern Ireland. On 1st March 1945 he passed his trade test for Clerk Group “C” Class 2 at Eglinton, County Londonderry. On 7th May 1945, a defeated Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Reims, France, to take effect the following day. The 8th May 1945 was designated as “VE” day – Victory in Europe. On 15th August the Empire of Japan finally surrendered. Although this should have been a joyous time for everyone, Trevor fell ill and was sent to the Unit Sick Room for a few days. He was later transferred to the local cottage hospital. Military Hospital, Campbell College, Belfast On 20th September 1945 he was admitted to the Military Hospital, set up at Campbell College (in East Belfast near to the Parliament Buildings), with acute right maxillary sinusitis. After some very painful surgical treatment (three procedures) he was discharged 8 days later. On 24th October 1945 (after 13 days of privilege leave) he returned to his unit. Although the war ended in 1945, Trevor remained in the army until 1946. His final posting was the Shrewsbury Record Office where he was responsible for producing discharge papers for the troops. Page 6 of 7
Trevor Hughes – Military Service (WW2) On 21 January 1946 he was posted to the 21st (Welsh) Holding Battalion. He was declared fit in his final medical examination on 3 April 1946. On 13 April 1946, D B Edwards, Corporal Major of the 21st (Welsh) Holding Battalion wrote the following about Trevor in his ‘Notification of Impending Release’: Trade on enlistment: Clerk and
storekeeper Testimonial: “For his 6 years’
service Fus. Hughes
has shown himself to
be thoroughly honest
and reliable. He has
a sound knowledge
of his clerical duties
and he has always
been most accurate
and efficient.”
Having already been measured for his “demob suit”, and now aged 29 years, Trevor Hughes was discharged from the army on 14th April 1946. Service Trade: Clerk Class II
Military Conduct: Exemplary
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