Private Michael Hughes' grave marked after 105 years

Photos courtesy of Veteranstv.

Michael was born in Rosewell, Scotland on 1 November 1887 to Patrick and Mary Hughes. On leaving school, he worked as a miner at Whitehill Colliery, Rosewell until volunteering with the 9th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in November 1914, aged 26.

After recovering from wounds he sustained at the Battle of Loos in 1915, he transferred to the 11th Battalion who were sent to Salonika, Greece, as part of an Anglo-French force sent to support the Serbian Army against the Bulgarian and Austro-Hungarian forces.

Spending 15 months in Greece, Michael developed a kidney disease, and he was sent back to the UK in March 1917 being admitted to Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol. He was discharged from the Army as a result of his illness and returned home to Rosewell. He was later admitted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he died on 15 September 1917 from ‘Bright’s disease’ (acute nephritis) and heart failure aged 29 years.

At that time, many men who had died in their home country as a direct result of their war service, were not reported to the War Graves Commission, in the same way as those who had been killed on the fighting fronts.

This was rectified in 2016 when he was accepted by CWGC as a war casualty. Thanks to research by CWGC Eyes On Hands On volunteer, Jim Renwick, the location of Michael’s unmarked grave was found to be in Hawthornden Cemetery, plot D83, where he had been buried on 18 September 1917. CWGC were able to verify the details and arrange for a Commission headstone to mark Michael’s grave, befitting a First World War casualty.

A dedication service took place on 30 March 2022 at his graveside attended by pupils from Rosewell Primary School, the Lord Lieutenant, the Provost of Midlothian Council, CWGC Public Engagement Coordinator Patricia Keppie, The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland and members of Michael’s family.