1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal GVIR bar Territorial (4539196 GNR. C. HUGHES. R.A.)
Charles Henry Hughes was born in Leeds, Yorkshire on 6 October 1922. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Light Anti Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery in the Middle East/North Africa and was taken Wounded in Action in the attritional Battle of Gazala on 6 June 1942. Having rolled back the Allied attempts to contain him, Rommel took Tobruk a few weeks later.
Having recovered, Hughes saw further service in the Aegean theatre of the war (Greece and surrounds) and was captured and held as a Prisoner of War on 3 October 1943. He was held in Stalag 4A and 4B in Germany until the end of the war. He was awarded his Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in 1946. He applied for his WWII medals which were sent to him on 15 March 1949 - to 13 Perth Street, Leeds. This was, according to the 1939 Register, his widowed mother, Julia's, address.
When claiming for his medals he stated that he was a Gunner with 36/12 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Post-war he got into a spot of bother with the law, the Bradford Observer of 8 March 1955 reporting that,
"Three people who pleased "Guilty" to shoplifting in Leeds yesterday were each fined £25. Magistrate Mr R Cleworth imposing the fines commented, "The time is coming when this sort of thing has got to be stopped by severe treatment. It will not be long before imprisonment is used so far as I am concerned."
Charles Henry Hughes (33) window cleaner, Perth Street, Leeds, Eva Gale and Laura McCreadie (married women) were the people fined."
Hughes died in Leeds on 27 March 1978.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with research, a Stalag IVB metal tag, RA cloth shoulder flashes, an RA cap badge, a lanyard and a blue purse.
