TRAGIC DEATH OF SWINTON SOLDIER AND GRIM REVENGE

Carrying on with our series on local soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War, we tell the story of Private Harry Hughes a Swinton man.

As the First World War continued to drag on through August 1916 the newspapers were becoming saturated with news of the deaths of local young men in France and Belgium.

This story from the pages of the Eccles and Patricroft Journal 100 years ago tells of the sad death of Private Harry Hughes who was serving in the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Harry, 28, lived at Central Buildings, Swinton and before enlisting in February 1915 was employed at the Electric Power Station in Radcliffe.

After a few weeks’ basic training he was shipped out to France along with many more young men all eager to do their bit.

He was able to survive 15 months in combat before tragedy struck.

His family received the dreaded letter through the door informing them of Harry’s death from his pal, Sergeant Dolby.

Dolby wrote:

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“It is with great sorrow and regret that I inform you of the death of your son.

“He had recently been transferred to my platoon as officer’s sergeant and he lost his life whilst trying to get in touch with his senior officer.”

 

There was no room for treading carefully around the subject, and Sgt Dolby continued:

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“He was shot through the head by a German sniper and died instantaneously, without suffering any pain.

“He was always a bright and cheerful fellow, and was well liked and respected by all the officers, NCOs and men.

“There is not a man who in the company who does not regret his loss, for he was a splendid soldier.

“He was buried on the field of battle during the night.”

 

He then added:

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“It may interest you to know that I managed to shoot the sniper through his head a short time afterwards.”

It seems bizzare to modern ears.

At a time when death was all around, perhaps Dolby honestly believed that news of their son’s killer’s death would somehow ease his parent’s grief?

To add to the sadness of Harry’s death we learn that he had been home on leave from the frontline in January and that he had been making plans to get married on his next leave.

So Harry’s sacrifice, brave as it was, would amount to no more than becoming just another name on the Menin Gate.