Pte. Bill Hughes, No.2 Commando, PoW St Nazaire

[Photo courtesy of Dennis Reeves of the Liverpool Scottish Museum].

Private William Amsted Hughes, 5 Troop No.2 Commando, was reported missing 28 March 1942 after Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire, later found to be a prisoner of war. He embarked for the raid on Motor Launch ML177.
During his incarceration he was put to work in three Working Camps - a timber factory at Sternberg, Sudetenland, a coal mine at Dombrova*, Upper Silesia, and on railway construction in Upper Silesia. He escaped twice during this period, the first being with a Corporal Jarvis from the camp at Sternberg. They were captured May 12 1943 by Czech Police at the border after 4 days. The second was from the coal mine at Dombrova* on 10 April 1944 with a Private Lewis; recaptured after 16 days at the Hungarian border by Slovakian Police.
William Armsted Hughes, a Clerk from Highcroft Avenue, Bebington, served in the 1st Battalion of the Liverpool Scottish TA. He volunteered for Special Service and on 23 April 1940 was posted to No.4 Independent Company on its formation at Sizewell. They embarked almost immediately for operations in Norway as part of Scissors Force. On their return and during a period of re-structuring of Special Service units No.4 Independent Company was absorbed into the new 1st Special Service Bn., which itself formed the nucleus of a new No.2 Commando formed in February 1941. Member of the Commando Association residing in the Wirral.