William’s occupation and marital status upon enlistment, was detailed as a Station Hand, who was single.
- Date of Birth – 13 February 1863, in Araluen, NSW.1Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/284247 Accessed 8 July 2026
- Parents –William Hughes and Catherine Mackey
- Enlisted – 5 June 1915, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, New South Wales. Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A67 Orsova on 17 July 19152University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=146293 Accessed 8 July 2026
- Regimental Number – 1463National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Hughes W 146, Item ID– 7031182, Accessed 8 July 2026
- Aged at embarkation – William gave his age as 44 year and 4 months but was actually 52.4Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10374602 Accessed 8 July 2026
- Military service – Siege Artillery Brigade. Rank – Gunner
- Previous military service noted on enlistment as with the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery
- Serving at the Western Front, William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
- William returned to Australia on 18 December 1919.5Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10969984 Accessed 8 July 2026
- William died 29 April 1937 aged 74 years6NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Death – 8293/1937 Parents William and Kathleen Registered in Rozelle. Accessed 8 July 2026
- William is buried at the Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland, New South Wales7Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/181511094/william-hughes Accessed 8 July 2026
William was the fourth child and second son of William Hughes (1836-1906) and Catherine Mackay (1836-1903), who had ten children following their marriage in Braidwood in 1859; John (1859-1862), Mary A (1861- ), Theresa (1862-1910), William (1863-1937), Bridget (1865- ), Joseph (1867-1926), Charles (1869-1939), Agnes (1871-1946), Anastasia Veronica “Vera” (1875-1946) and Winnifred (1877- ). A notice published in the Braidwood Observer8Braidwood Observer and Miner’s Advocate (NSW : 1859-1862) Wednesday 20 August 1862 p 2 Family Notices detailed ‘On Monday, the 18th instant [August 1862], at the residence of its parents, Clear Hills, Crown Flat, Araluen, of inflammation of the lungs, John, eldest son of Mr. William Hughes, aged 2 years and 9 months.’
The 1871 Electoral Roll9Braidwood Electoral Roll 1870-1871, https://www.ihr.com.au/ Accessed 8 July 2026 shows William Hughes, at Clear Hills, in Araluen. In 1875 the Grevilles Post Office Directory10Greville’s Official Post Office Directory for 1875–1876 https://www.ihr.com.au/secure/html/greville75.html. Accessed 18 February 2023 lists William Hughes as a Miner in Araluen.
William enlisted on 5 June 1915, at the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, in New South Wales, and embarked from Melbourne on 17 July 1915. On Saturday 17 July 1915 the Sydney Morning Herald11The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Saturday 17 July 1915 p 14 SIEGE ARTILLERY detailed ‘The Siege Artillery Brigade, numbering 400 officers and men marched through the streets of Melbourne yesterday. The brigade consists of picked men from the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, who are to leave Australia for England, where they will be equipped with their heavy howitzers for active service in Europe. They were inspected by the Governor-General, who complimented the brigade upon its excellent appearance. He said the men of the Australian Siege Artillery Brigade could stand side by side with any troops in the world.’
The Australian Heavy Batteries served on the Western Front largely detached from the rest of the AIF. They spent relatively little time on the Somme. Most of their service was rendered further north around Arras and Vimy in France and into Flanders, as part of British Corps Artillery. The Heavy Batteries were manned at the outset with soldiers from the permanent force Garrison Artillery, later augmented by reinforcements from the militia.
William married Elsie Ornetta Esdill (1886-1972) on 24 February 1918 in Taunton, Somerset, England. They had three children; Lillie, William and Gilbert. The 1930 electoral roll shows William as a dairyman and Elsie, residing in Glenholme Dairy, in Caringbah, Sydney.