Corporal Frank P Hughes

Frank Peter Hughes was born in Liverpool on 3rd April 1918. He served with the Royal Artillery until the outbreak of the war when he transferred to the BEF, fighting back to Dunkirk until coming back across the channel on the 1st June 1940.

Following this Pte Hughes volunteered for airborne forces. 

After a short time in North Africa in 1943, Private Hughes went on parachute training course 114A at RAF Ringway which lasted from the 30th April - 9th May 1944. 

Upon successful completion of the course he was posted to 2 SAS.

He saw action in Normandy where he was awarded the DCM.

His citation read "Cpl Hughes was in command of a party of three men which was dropped by parachute on the night 17/18 August 1944 between the rivers Seine and Risle with the object of harassing the enemy’s withdrawal and causing confusion on his lines of retreat. Any petrol target was to be treated as top priority.

On 19th August Cpl Hughes observed enemy vehicles filling up with petrol from a dump near Elbeuf. Leaving his two men to give covering fire if necessary, Cpl Hughes moved up alone to the dump and placed an explosive charge in position. This charge was seen to detonate two hours later, completely destroying the dump. A little later this NCO successfully destroyed an ammunition dump, killing a number of the enemy who were guarding it. On another occasion this NCO received information that an 88 mm gun towed by a truck was in position close to a road. He decided to attack this, and under the covering fire of his two men he advanced sufficiently close to the position to throw two Mills grenades. Those of the enemy who were unharmed deserted the gun, which Cpl Hughes captured intact.

Finally, on 25th August, this NCO contacted a Canadian patrol to whom he handed over 14 prisoners and was able to give the officer in charge a chart of enemy minefields in that immediate area. Throughout this operation this NCO showed high personal courage, initiative and daring besides a determination to cause damage and casualties to the enemy at every possible opportunity. His conduct is worthy of the highest praise."

Hughes was discharged from the army in 1946. He emigrated to Australia in 1972 and lived there until his death in 1979.