Mathew Hughes

For other people named Mathew or Matt Hughes, see Matt Hughes.

Matthew Hughes
Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
Born	1822 Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire
Died	9 January 1882 (aged 59) Bradford
Buried at	Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Corporal
Unit	7th Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Crimean War
Awards	Victoria Cross

Matthew Hughes VC (1822 - 9 January 1882) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Hughes was approximately 33 years old and a private in 7th Regiment of Foot (now The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers), British Army when, during the Crimean War, he performed the acts that saw him recommended for the VC. The full citation was in the first set of awards of the VC published in the London Gazette on 24 February 1857, and read:

War Office, 24th February, 1857.

THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the Decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Men of Her Majesty's Navy and Marines, and Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of Her Majesty's Army, who have been recommended to Her Majesty for that Decoration, in accordance with the rules laid down in Her Majesty's Warrant of the 29th of January, 1856 on account of acts of bravery performed by them before the Enemy during the late War, as recorded against their several names, viz. :—

[...]

7th Regiment No. 1879 Private Mathew Hughes

Private Mathew Hughes, 7th Royal Fusiliers, was noticed by Colonel Campbell, 90th Light Infantry, on the 7th June, 1855, at the storming of the Quarries, for twice going for ammunition, under a heavy fire, across the open ground; he also went to the front, and brought in Private John Hampton, who was lying severely wounded; and on the 18th June, 1855, he volunteered to bring in Lieutenant Hobson, 7th Royal Fusiliers, who was lying severely wounded, and, in the act of doing so, was severely wounded himself.^[1]

Hughes later achieved the rank of corporal. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Tower of London in the Royal Fusiliers Museum.

References

1. ^ London Gazette: no. 21971. pp. 649–658. 24 February 1857. Retrieved 2008-06-06.

• Royal Fusiliers Recipients of the Victoria Cross
• Location of grave and VC medal (West Yorkshire)
• Mathew Hughes at Find a Grave

Persondata
Name	Hughes, Matthew
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1822
Place of birth	Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire
Date of death	9 January 1882
Place of death	Bradford