Soldier to Bobby and back again!

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Richard Hughes 1st Btn Royal Sussex Regiment & Metropolitan Police.

Was born in January 1868, in The Parish of St George in the East London. Prior to enlistment in the army, he served as a porter. He joined the army on the 20th March 1880, aged 18 years and 3 months. His height being 5` 6?. His complexion as fair, his eyes blue and his hair light brown. Religion Church of England. He gave his next of kin as his father Thomas Hughes 290 Roman Road, Old Ford Road, Bow, London.
Hughes entered the army as a Private in the 1st Btn Sussex Regiment 43rd Bde at Guernsey on the 26th March 1880, he saw home service from 20th March 1880 to 3rd October 1881, then overseas in Cyprus 4th Oct 1881 to 8th Sept 1882, followed by Egypt 9th Sept 1882 to 11th Sept 1885. He is entitled to the Egypt Campaign Medal clasp ?The Nile 1884-5? and the Khedives Star. He was present during the Relief of Gordon at Khartoum.
1 Sussex Regiment?s involvement being as follows?..The Nile Expedition was a campaign less against man, than against nature and time. It began in late 1884, with the intention of relieving General Gordon at Khartoum. The campaign started slowly and was hampered with problems from the outset. The Sussex Regiment mounted on camels, animals that most soldiers of the Queen were unfamiliar with. It took time for the troops to learn how to control these beasts, but after much training the troops were ready. Sir Herbert Stewart was in overall command of the Desert Column, comprising of several Regiments, the Sussex being just one. On the 30th December Stewart and the column rode out into the desert. On the 14th December 150 men of the Sussex Regiment, were left to guard the wells at Jakdul, the remainder of the Regiment continued with the column. Two days later the enemy was spotted, but was not engaged, instead the column made camp, building a small rampart or zariba, from stones, rocks and thorn scrub, by night fall this zariba was only 2 feet high, the rear most part of the camp, was protected by the camels saddles piled up, along with stores boxes. It was very cold that night and the camp got little rest, any light attached a hail of bullets from the enemy. On all sides could be heard the noise of the tom-toms. As dawn broke on the 17th harassing fire thickened, as men moved about trying to get warm, a quick breakfast of bully beef and biscuits was eaten. Casualties began to fall including 5 Officers. Stewart decided that rather than wait for an attack he would take the offensive. Leaving the wounded, the baggage and most of the camels, behind guarded by a party of the Sussex, he formed a square and advanced. On the 17th January the battle of Abu Klea, was fought, but given that Hughes hasn?t got this clasp, on his medal, it is unlikely that he fought in it. The Regiment however, fought bravely during this battle and gained it as a battle honour.
On the 19th Jan 1885, another engagement was fought at Abu Kru, however no clasp was awarded for this action. The action, was fought in order to gain access to the Nile. The column intended to drink from the Nile that night. They formed a marching square, and advanced under support of the guns and fire from the zariba. The tom-toms could be clearly heard once more, and their flags streaming. The square advanced, occasional halting to fire its volleys at hidden enemy rifleman. As the ridge was approached the enemy rose up, preparing to charge. The square halted , the men cheered and volleys began to crash out from the double ranks, as the horde started down the slope They came at great speed houses and banners at the front. They got within 400 yards volleys firing continuously hundred fell, mowing the Arabs down like grass. Cool discipline and accurate fire prevented the close-quarter fighting as at Abu-Klea. The enemy broke, and the day was won, but at a cost of 23 killed and 98 wounded. Further more the men had been under fire, marching or working in exhausting conditions for three sweltering days and chilly nights with little rest, limited food and rather less water.
The Nile reached, the next step was to reach Khartoum, the Sussex?s roll in this was to supply 20 men, to board the steamers Bordein & Telahawiyeh. Mind full of the importance Gordon had attached to red coats being visible among the relief force, the Sussex were kitted up in red coats supplied by the guards. Khartoum was finally reached on the 28th, but it was to late, Gordon was dead and Khartoum lost.


Hughes, then returned to England, and on the 1st December 1885, he became part of the 1st Class Army Reserve, his character being described as Good.
He joined the Met Police on the 2nd May 1886 posted as PC379 C Div (St James), however, on the 2nd July 1886 he was posted as PC42 F Div (Paddington), following a disciplinary matter, which resulted in him being fined 10 shillings and severely reprimanded and cautioned. (I have not being able to ascertain the circumstances which culminated in this punishment.) Hughes remained at F div, until the 7th Oct 1890, when he again found himself in hot water, on this occasion he was posted to R Div (Greenwich) as PC 425, his punishment being again severely reprimanded, cautioned and transferred to another Division. He was reported to report himself at Blackheath Road Police Station at 10 am on the 8th Oct. (Again I have been unable to discover what he?d done to merit this punishment).
Shortly after this on the 13th August 1892, Hughes re-enlisted in the army with his old Battalion, serving with them at home until his final discharge on the 12th August 1896.
Hughes was entitled to 3 medals, Egypt 1882, Khedives Star and 1887 Jubilee Medal.

[bigjarofwasps]

Over the years I’ve bought and then subsequently sold hundreds of medals. The one I regret parting with the most is this one, if anyone should happen to know it’s current whereabouts I would very much like to hear from you.