Private Robert Hughes
1st/6th Battalion, Black Watch
Died 2 July 1917
Private 285030 Robert Hughes was born on 21 April 1898 at Railway Crossing Cottage, Sorbie, the son of railway surfaceman, Peter Hughes, and his wife, Margaret Higgins.
Before the war Robert was employed at Carsegowan Farm just outside Wigtown by the Lindsay family . He enlisted in Ayr in October 1916, joining the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. After a period of training at Ripon, North Yorkshire, he transferred to the 1st/6th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) and was sent to the Front.
On 2 July 1917, only 9 months after enlisting, Private Hughes was dead, aged only 19.
The Galloway Gazette (21 July 1917) carried the news of his death:
Mr & Mrs Peter Hughes, Barsalloch, Newton Stewart, have received notice from the War Office that their son Pte. Robert Hughes, Black Watch, was killed in action on July 2nd. Pte. Hughes joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in October 1916, and after receiving training at Ripon he was transferred to the Black Watch and sent to the front. Previous to joining the army he was employed by Messrs Lindsay, Carsegowan, and he was popular and well liked by those who knew him. He was nineteen years and ten months old.
Robert Hughes is buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, near Ypres in Belgium. The cemetery contains 1,813 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. He is also named on Newton Stewart memorial.
On 5 July 1919 the Galloway Gazette carried this memorial to him from his family:
Do not ask us if we miss him,
Oh, tis such a vacant place,
Oft we think we hear his footsteps,
Or we see his smiling face.
Your guardian angel’s work is done,
Farewell our brave and noble son.
Your young life gone ere yet begun
Alas! You’re one who won’t return.