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Cenotaph record

David Ernest Hughes

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Photograph of Saint Luke‘s Church Whyteleafe, where four New Zealand pilots are buried. On 11 November (Armistice Day), each grave had a card giving details of the airman together with the national flag and, in most cases, a piece of artwork from the local school. Image kindly provided by Ken Algar (Decemeber 2021).

Photograph of Saint Luke‘s Church Whyteleafe, where four New Zealand pilots are buried. On 11 Novemb …

Copyright undetermined - untraced rights owner AWMM

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    David Ernest AWMM
  • Surname
    Hughes AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    David Earnest AWMM
  • Service number
    • NZ40920 AWMM
    • WWII 40920 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    20 October 1912 AWMM Dunedin, Otago AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. D. A. Hughes of Riverlea, Taranaki AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
    • Ground Training School, Weraroa (commenced 9 April 1940) AWMM
    • Gunnery Course, Air Observers School, Ohakea (May 1940) AWMM
    • No. 1 Coastal Operational Training Unit, Silloth, Cumberland (30 July 1940) AWMM
    • No. 5 OTU, Aston Downs (Beg. August 1940) AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Air Gunner/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845611)
  • Enlistment
    WW2 1940 AWMM Farmer/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • David Hughes was the son of David Alfred Hughes and Jimima Hughes (nee Watson) of Kaponga, Taranaki.

      Educated Opunake High School.

      Received Air Gunners badge.

      Promoted to Sergeant 21 September 1940.

      Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940.

      Attended Opunake District High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845611)) AWMM
    • Sergeant David Ernest Hughes was an air gunner from New Zealand who'd arrived in England on 21st July 1940. Joining No 600 Squadron at Redhill in Surrey south of London on 21st September 1940 he was a member of the crew of Blenheim L4905 which crashed in heavy rain at Forest Row, Sussex in the early hours of 3rd October 1940 after an engagement with enemy aircraft. All three crew members were killed. Public - Mike - 27 April 2017 - Battle of Britain London Monument website.
      http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/HughesDE.htm
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    3 October 1940 AWMM
    Age 27 AWMM
    Forest Row, Sussex AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Whyteleafe (St Luke) Churchyard, Surrey, England AWMM Row G. Grave 32. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author. AWMM
      Wynn, K. (1981). p. 218-219 AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Wynn, K. (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norwich, England: Gliddon Books. AWMM
    • Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn]. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - Battle of Britain Roll of Honour, July - October 1940. Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ADQA 17263 AIR118/109/77e (R17845784) AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ha - Hy. Archives New Zealand (R17845611) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • Please note that the 12 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions. AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [(New Zealanders Attached to R.A.F. [Royal Air Force]) (Officers), (Europe) - Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845744) AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
15 September 2022TerryChristchurchResearcher
26 March 2021KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher
09 June 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
27 April 2017MikeCaterham, EnglandOther

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