Hughes, Pierce Morgan
6214 Sergeant Pierce Morgan Hughes - 11th Battalion and Australian Army Pay Corps
Pierce Morgan Hughes was born in Liverpool England in 1879 to John and Jane Hughes.
He was educated in Liverpool and grew up in that area of England but by 1901 was living in Cheshire.
After leaving school he took up employment in the ship industry and eventually found work as a Steward in the Mercantile Marine Service.
In 1898 at Birkenhead he married Aagot Olsen. Pierce travelled to Australia regularly and arrived in Albany WA in 1909. They would go on to have three children. Pierce was soon employed as a Steward employed on the transport ship. He also had training as an accountant.
He settled in WA for a few years and spent sone time inland at Quairading where he was working as a waiter.
Pierce then moved back to Fremantle where he was residing at 34 Essex Street.
On the 3rd February 1916 Pierce enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 inches tall;
Weight - 140lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Black;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment, Pierce was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Depot Training Unit. He was taken through the basics infantry training but before too long he was transferred to the School for Non Commissioned Officers at Belmont Camp.
On the 9th May 1916 Pierce was assigned to the 20th Reinforcements to the 11th battalion and was given the rank of Corporal and the regimental number 6214. After a few months of training Pierce was then promoted to the rank of Sergeant. This rank was to be for the training and voyage only.
On the 17th September 1917 Pierce and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship Clan MacGillivray and set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth Harbour on the 2nd November 1916. After being disembarked Pierce and his group were sent to the 3rd Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. Upon arrival Pierce had to revert back to being a Private.
On the 17th December 1916 Pierce was sent across to France and then had a few days at the 1st Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Etaples. He was there for a few weeks and then joined the 11th battalion on the 17th January 1917.
The 11th Battalion were then situated on the Somme Battlefield undergoing a very cold French winter. Pierce would see action the following month at Le Barque when the 11th and 12th Battalions attacked the German held village.
In March 1917 the Germans began a withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australian and British forces pressed the withdrawal closely and several sharp battles were fought around what was known as the Outpost Line Villages.
In March 1917 the 11th Battalion saw action at Morchies, and in April 1917 at Boursies and Lagnicourt. The 11th Battalion had large casualties at Lagnicourt, but Pierce came through safely. On the 20th April 1917 Pierce was promoted to Lance Corporal.
The following month in May 1917, the 11th Battalion fought at the Second Battle of Bullecourt. During the action Pierce was severely wounded when hit in the knee, thigh and head by shrapnel. He was initially reported as killed in action but fortunately for his family this was soon changed to wounded in action. He was initially treated at the 5th Australian Field Ambulance and then the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station.
He was then put on an ambulance train and sent to Calais where he was admitted to the 7th Canadian General Hospital. He only had a few days here and was then sent to England. Upon arrival Pierce was put on a hospital train which took him to Sheffield, and was then admitted to the 3rd Northern General Hospital.
Pierce was in hospital in Sheffield for over three months undergoing operations and receiving medical care. It was also helpful for Pierce that all his relatives were in England.
On the 17th August 1917 Pierce was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He was there for a week and then on the 25th August, was granted a two week furlough, which he no doubt spent with his wife in London. He then reported to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. Ten days later Pierce was transferred to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Codford.
Pierce was then transferred on the 5th October 1917 to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He would spend the next two months here recovering his fitness after his long period wounded.
On the 5th December 1917 Pierce was sent back to France and rejoined the 11th Battalion. Pierce's unit was then in Belgium, helping to hold the front line south east of Ypres, between Hollebeke and Messines. He would spent the next few months in Belgium. On the 6th March 1918 Pierce was detached for duty with the 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade Headquarters. He would be with the HQ till the Armistice in November 1918.
After the Armistice, Pierce was given two weeks leave in England, but after returning to France he was assigned to the Australian Army Pay Corps. He was also then promoted to Sergeant. Pierce would remain in France working for the Australian Army Pay Corps until the 15th June 1919. He then returned to England and continued his work with the Pay Corps at the AIF HQ in London.
With his wife being in London, Pierce continued working for the AIF HQ in London up to July 1920. With all bar a few Australians all now returned home, the AIF HQ was dismantled and Pierce took his discharge from the AIF in England on the 17th July 1920.
On his discharge from the AIF Pierce was 40 years old. He took up residence with his wife at 19 Florence Road Seacombe, Wallasey, Cheshire. He would soon take up work at his wife's family farm.
In 1921 he was working again for the White Star Line as a Steward and after would work as a Transport Clerk in Wales.
Pierce died in 1963 aged 80 in Carnarvonshire Wales. He was buried at Dwyran Calvanistic Methodist Chapel.