Frederick Russell Hughes (1913 - 1942)

Born 23 Feb 1913 in Maryborough, Victoria, Australia

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 29 in At Sea

Biography

Frederick Hughes was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Frederick Hughes died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Frederick Russell Hughes was born in 1913 at Maryborough, VIC. Son of John Henderson Hughes and Cristina Hughes

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Royal Park, Melbourne, VIC on 03 Jul 1940 as a Private (VX34527). At the time he was single, a baker and living at Benalla, VIC. He gave as his next of kin his brother, John Henderson Hughes who was living in Moyhu, VIC.

He had been a member of the Benalla Footballers' Cricket Club.^[1]

There was a public farewell for soldiers from Benalla at the Memorial Hall in Jul 1940, where he and others were presented with wallets.^[2]

He managed to spend Christmas holidays, 1940 in Benalla on leave.^[3]

He was initially allocated to 2/29th Bn but after training he was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) on 10 May 1941.

He embarked on HMAT "Zealandia" on 12 Jul 1941 for Kavieng, New Ireland in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 29 Jul 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Ireland on 23 Jan 1942 he was probably with the bulk of the Coy who escaped overland to Kaut on the south coast and boarded the "Induna Star" on 29 Jan 1942 before making their way along the coast of New Ireland heading to Rabaul. When they learned that Rabaul had fallen and hearing that the Japanese had landed to the east of them (false) the ship sailed south. It was spotted by a Japanese aircraft, bombed and taken under tow by a Japanese destroyer on 02 Feb 1942 and entered Rabaul on 03 Feb 1942 where he became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul.

He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942, en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Sources

1. ↑ Advertising (1945, December 7). Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954), p. 2 (MORNING.). Retrieved March 2, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65564183
2. ↑ BENALLA SOLDIERS FAREWELLED (1940, August 2). Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved March 2, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65970868
3. ↑ PERSONAL (1941, January 3). Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved March 2, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65971971

• Birth - Victoria BDM Birth index - Event: births; Registration number: 5478 / 1913; Family name: HUGHES; Given name(s): Fred Russell; Place of event: Maryborough, VIC, Australia; Personal detail Mother's name: HUGHES, Elizabeth Ann; Mother's family name at birth: OGILVIE; Father's Name: HUGHES, John Richard

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - HUGHES FREDERICK RUSSELL : Service Number - VX34527 : Date of birth - 23 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - MARYBOROUGH VIC : Place of enlistment - ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin - HUGHES JOHN - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6213531

• Benalla Soldier Reported Missing (1945, October 12). Benalla Ensign (Vic. : 1938 - 1954), p. 3 (MORNING.). Retrieved March 2, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65563785

• AUSTRALIA'S NEW HONOR ROLL (1945, October 9). The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved March 2, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73175217

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1689984

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615818/hughes,-frederick-russell/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/633113

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial: https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/hughes-frederick-russell/