Sergeant Stanley Hughes MM

Stanley Hughes was born 13 September 1915 in Liverpool.

Private Hughes enlisted in May 1934 into the Kings Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), later volunteering for The Parachute Regiment, where he was posted to the 9th Parachute Battalion.

Lance Corporal Stanley Hughes had landed on ‘D’ Day, 6 June 1944, with The King’s Regiment, which was part of a ‘Beach Holding Group’. When these were being broken up in late June, early July he volunteered for service with the 6th Airborne Division, where he was assigned to the 9th Parachute Battalion.

MM Citation: 'On the night 18th/19th August Sergeant Hughes was the Platoon Sergeant of the leading Platoon of 9th Parachute Battalion in the attack on Dozule-Putot Station. He had been promoted to Sergeant from Lance-Corporal 2 weeks before.

The Platoon captured the Station Hotel in the centre of the objective, and on the Platoon Commander being killed, Sergeant Hughes took over command and organised the defence of the house and immediate vicinity. On the morning of 19th August, the enemy counter-attacked with heavy mortar and artillery Self-Propelled and his leading troops got to within 10 yards of the Platoon position. In spite of heavy fire, Sergeant Hughes moved from Section to Section, inspiring and leading his men from tree to tree and bank to bank in a successful and determined effort to annihilate every German in sight, so that every attempt to penetrate his position was flung back with loss to the enemy. For the remainder of the morning the position was subjected to intense observed Artillery and mortar fire, in the course of which many direct hits were scored on the station hotel and Platoon position.

Sergeant Hughes set an example of cool determination and tenacity throughout this trying period, and by his leadership held secure the key position in the Battalion area.'

He went on to serve in both the Ardennes and on the Rhine Crossing with the 9th Battalion and went to Palestine with them, and was still serving with the 9th Battalion when it was amalgamated with the 8th Battalion.

He was discharged from Regular Army service on the 20 July 1948.