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Final rank:

Corporal

First name/s

Edwin Alfred

Last name

HUGHES (M.M.)

Service number and Regiment/Unit/Corps

20752
8th Reinforcements, New Zealand Māori (Pioneer) Battalion
Rarotongan Company

Also known as

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Date of birth

15/01/1984 (as per war service record)

Place of birth

Levuka, Fiji

Date of death

Unknown

Place of death

Unknown

Death registration number

Unknown

Headstone/grave location

Unknown

Next of kin

Peckham Hughes (father), Fiji (with "unknown" added to war service record)
G W Hughes (uncle & guardian), Korovou Fiji

Our research has led us to William Thomas PECKHAM (born Fiji with an American father) and Elizabeth HUGHES (born Apia, Samoa) as possible parents. It is possible that he used his mothers maiden surname HUGHES when enlisting. Family to confirm.

Additional information

Born in Fiji and enlisted from Tonga. Embarked at Wellington on SS Pakeha on 23 September 1916 to disembark at Devonport, United Kingdom 18 July 1916. Posted to New Zealand Pioneer Battalion. Transferred to Rarotongan Company 14 January 1918 and posted to the Company 5 March 1918. Returned to New Zealand on SS Malta and was discharged in New Zealand 7 March 1919.

Awarded a Military Medal for bravery. His citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in St Julien Area on 18th and 19th October 1917. This N.C.O. had charge of a section constructing road between Spree Farm and Gravenstafel. Time and again his section were subject to very heavy shell fire and Hughes on two occasions was completely buried in mud but extricated himself and carried on. His control of the section was excellent and his example inspired confidence in the men."

Images and documents (click on images to enlarge)

Image credits and references

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​Further links

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