A HIGHLY EMOTIVE “TWO BROTHERS” R.A.F. & R.N.
Double Casualty Group.
The HUGHES Brothers of Abertillery, Wales.
Sgt F.A. HUGHES (Royal Air Force) K.I.A. 22.1.43
&
W.J.E. HUGHES (Royal Navy) K.I.A. 15.12.41.
Both young men were the sons of William & Ethel Hughes,
of Abertillery, Monmouthshire, Wales.
[YOUNGER BROTHER]—Age 19.
1333 200 Sgt.Francis Albert Hughes.
76 (Halifax) Squadron RAF(VR)
Killed in Action (Lost Without Trace) 22nd January 1943
while Minelaying off the Dutch Coast in the Ems Estuary.
[THE MEDALS]
The 1939-45 Star
The Aircrew Europe Star
The War Medal 1939-45
All medals are “Mint State” with their original RAF type ribbons.
With Official Air Council Condolence Slip.
“SERGEANT F.A. HUGHES”
[THE FINAL SORTIE]
HANDLEY-PAGE HALIFAX, DT-621 ( MP-D )
The aircraft left RAF Linton on Ouse at 17:06 on 21st January 1943 on a “gardening” sortie with three other 76 Squadron aircraft.
This machine and all its crew of seven was lost without trace at sea with the aircraft wreckage having never been located.
[THE LOST CREW of SEVEN]
Sgt Derek Holmes- Pilot
(*Derek was on his 1st Mission as Captain)
Sgt Philip Ferguson-Navigator
Sgt John Fleming McFarlane-Bomb Aimer
Sgt Frederick E. Williams-Flight Engineer
Sgt Dennis C.H. Hunt-Wireless Operator
Sgt Thomas W.E. Robson-Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt FRANCIS ALBERT HUGHES - TAIL GUNNER
“All were lost without trace & are commemorated on
The Runnymede Memorial to the Missing”
(A Commonwealth War Graves Commemoration Top Page is Included for Each Member of The Crew)
[THE ELDER BROTHER]-Age 20
D/JX 154500. Able Seaman WIlliam John Elwyn Hughes
H.M.S. GALATEA.
Killed in Action (Lost Without Trace)
[THE MEDALS]
The 1939-45 Star
The Atlantic Star
The Africa Star
The War Medal 1939-45
All medals are “Mint State” with their original ribbons.
With Official Lords Commissioners Admiralty Condolence Slip.
“William John Elwyn Hughes”
[THE LOSS OF HMS GALATEA] 14.12.1941
On the night of 14th December 1941 HMS GALATEA was attacked by German dive bombers in an attack that persisted for about seven hours. Just before midnight when she was N/W of Alexandria in the Mediterranean Sea, Galatea became a target for the German Submarine U-557 which hit her with two torpedos.
The cruiser turned over and sank in just three minutes taking her Captain E.W.B. Sim, 22 officers & 447 ratings to the bottom.
There were only about 100 fortunate survivors who were rescued by two other RN ships.
U-557 was commanded by Kapitanleutnant Ottakar Paulshen
[THE LOSS of U-557] 16.12.1941
Ironically, just two days later on 16th December 1941, the U-557 was rammed by an Italian torpedo boat which was heading back to its base at Suda on then Axis occupied Greek island of Crete.
The Italian captain saw the submarine at 21:44hrs heading in a northerly direction and believed it to be a British submarine.
U-557 then promptly sank with all hands lost.
AN EMOTIVE & RARE TWO BROTHERS “MULTI-SERVICE”
ROYAL AIR FORCE & ROYAL NAVY CASUALTY ASSEMBLY .
£995 with part exchanges welcome
[THE MEDALS]
The 1939-45 Star
The Aircrew Europe Star
The War Medal 1939-45
All medals are “Mint State” with their original RAF type ribbons.
With Official Air Council Condolence Slip.
“SERGEANT F.A. HUGHES”
[THE FINAL SORTIE]
HANDLEY-PAGE HALIFAX, DT-621 ( MP-D )
The aircraft left RAF Linton on Ouse at 17:06 on 21st January 1943 on a “gardening” sortie with three other 76 Squadron aircraft.
This machine and all its crew of seven was lost without trace at sea with the aircraft wreckage having never been located.
[THE LOST CREW of SEVEN]
Sgt Derek Holmes- Pilot
(*Derek was on his 1st Mission as Captain)
Sgt Philip Ferguson-Navigator
Sgt John Fleming McFarlane-Bomb Aimer
Sgt Frederick E. Williams-Flight Engineer
Sgt Dennis C.H. Hunt-Wireless Operator
Sgt Thomas W.E. Robson-Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt FRANCIS ALBERT HUGHES - TAIL GUNNER
“All were lost without trace & are commemorated on
The Runnymede Memorial to the Missing”
(A Commonwealth War Graves Commemoration Top Page is Included for Each Member of The Crew)
[THE ELDER BROTHER]-Age 20
D/JX 154500. Able Seaman WIlliam John Elwyn Hughes
H.M.S. GALATEA.
Killed in Action (Lost Without Trace)
[THE MEDALS]
The 1939-45 Star
The Atlantic Star
The Africa Star
The War Medal 1939-45
All medals are “Mint State” with their original ribbons.
With Official Lords Commissioners Admiralty Condolence Slip.
“William John Elwyn Hughes”
[THE LOSS OF HMS GALATEA] 14.12.1941
On the night of 14th December 1941 HMS GALATEA was attacked by German dive bombers in an attack that persisted for about seven hours. Just before midnight when she was N/W of Alexandria in the Mediterranean Sea, Galatea became a target for the German Submarine U-557 which hit her with two torpedos.
The cruiser turned over and sank in just three minutes taking her Captain E.W.B. Sim, 22 officers & 447 ratings to the bottom.
There were only about 100 fortunate survivors who were rescued by two other RN ships.
U-557 was commanded by Kapitanleutnant Ottakar Paulshen
[THE LOSS of U-557] 16.12.1941
Ironically, just two days later on 16th December 1941, the U-557 was rammed by an Italian torpedo boat which was heading back to its base at Suda on then Axis occupied Greek island of Crete.
The Italian captain saw the submarine at 21:44hrs heading in a northerly direction and believed it to be a British submarine.
U-557 then promptly sank with all hands lost.
AN EMOTIVE & RARE TWO BROTHERS “MULTI-SERVICE”
ROYAL AIR FORCE & ROYAL NAVY CASUALTY ASSEMBLY .
£995 with part exchanges welcome