Thomas Hughes was born on the 21st November 1897 at 73 Price Street, Burslem, Staffordshire to parents Thomas Hughes elder born 1861 at Seacombe, Cheshire and Clara nee Goodhead born 1859 at Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Thomas and Clara were married on the 23rd May 1880 at Cobridge, Staffordshire. 

According to the 1911 census they would have 3 sons and 1 daughter, Thomas born 1897 at Burslem, George born 1881 at Burslem, Jonathan born 1883 at Burslem and Sarah Ann born 1887 at Burslem. 

The 1881 census shows newly married Thomas (20) working as a Potter and Clara with new baby George living at 23 Clews Street Burslem. 

The 1891 census shows Thomas (30) working as a Potter with wife Clara, son Jonathan (7) George (10) and Sarah Anne (4) living at 73 Price Street, Burslem. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 24 Wain Street, Burslem. Curiously Thomas elder is not present. Those who were, were Clara aged 42 listed as the head of family, George aged 20 a Potters Handler, Jonathan aged 17 a Potters Turner, Sarah Ann aged 14 a Potters Tile Fettler, Thomas himself aged 3.  Also present is a daughter in law Amy Hughes nèe Jones a Potters Laithe Turner aged 21. George Hughes and Amy Jones married 1901. 

The 1911 Census shows us the family living at 52 Wade Street, Burslem. Thomas elder has now returned and is described as a 50 year old Potters Turner born Seacombe in Cheshire. Jonathan and George have moved on leaving Thomas, a 13 year old schoolboy. Sarah Ann is now married to Eli Griffin who is also present as a 24 year old miner, Sarah Ann is a Potters Sponger.

Clara Hughes died Twenty fourth November 1913 at 53 Leonard Street Burslem aged 54 years of Mitral regurgitation and Dropsy (Dropsy was swelling, nowadays called odema, some conditions which can cause the kind of swelling associated with dropsy are cardiac failure). 

Thomas Hughes enlisted in November 1915 aged 17, he must have been enlisted as a territorial as he was first given service number T1786 Royal Engineers. He was later renumbered 486528 continuing service with the 56th Field Company Royal Engineers with the rank of Sapper. Sadly we cannot find very much information regarding Thomas’ WW1 military service but we see he was killed in action on the 13th June 1917 aged only 19. He was still serving with the 56th Field Company of the Royal Engineers and he is buried in the Happy Valley Cemetery, Fampoux, grave number C.21. The Company War Diary shows us that on the day of Thomas’ death another 12 men were also killed, all whilst working on dugouts North of Tilloy, this was in the area of Arras, France. 

WW1 pension cards tell us a gratuity was paid to his father but the amount and date is not entered. It also provides an address of 94 Lonsdale Road, Burslem for his father.

Contemporary newspapers reports of the Staffordshire Sentinel dated Tuesday 3rd July 1917 

News has been received by Mr. T. Hughes, 53, Leonard-Street, Burslem, that his son, Sapper T. Hughes, Royal Engineers, has been killed in action. Sapper Hughes, who was 19 years of age, enlisted in November, 1915, prior to which he was employed by Messrs. Doulton and Co., Burslem. 

Thomas Hughes was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Thomas is remembered on the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial.

The Sentinel newspaper printed the memorial on the 13th June 1919 

HUGHES.-In loving memory of Sapper T. Hughes, R.E., who was killed in action June 13th, 1917, of 55, Leonard-Street, Burslem, aged 19 years. A day of remembrance too sad to forget. Ever remembered by Father, Brothers, Sister and Relatives.

HUGHES.-In loving memory of Sapper Tom Hughes, who was killed in action June 13th, 1917, of 53, Leonard-Street, Burslem. There's a lonely spot in Flanders that to us is forever dear. Ever remembered by Aunt Eliza, Uncle Fred, Cousins Jack, Nelly, George, Sally and Gladys.

HUGHES.-In loving memory of Sapper Thomas Hughes, R.E., late of 53, Leonard-Street, Burslem, who was Killed in Action, June 13th, 1917. May the heavenly winds blow softly O'er a sweet and hallowed spot; Where they laid our dearest brother, Who will never be forgot. Fondly remembered by his Sister, Brother-in-law and Children.

The census of 1921 shows Thomas Hughes now aged 60 working as a Potters Turner remarried to Mary Ellen nee Hancock with their 9 month old baby Florence Hughes born 1920 and Marys older daughter aged nearly 16 Mary Ellen Baker working as a Potters Gilder, all living at 94 Lonsdale Street Stoke on Trent.

SOURCES

Parents marriage: Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at Staffordshire Record Office; Stafford, Staffordshire, England. 

1881 census: Class: RG11; Piece: 2714; Folio: 82; Page: 40; GSU roll: 1341650

1891 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2162; Folio: 58; Page: 31; GSU roll: 6097272.

1901 census: Class: RG13; Piece: 2593; Folio: 172; Page: 12

1911 census: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911

Clara Hughes death: FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES WAR DIARIES WO95/1403

WWW.FIND A GRAVE.COM

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/535330/t-hughes/

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19170703/083/0004 

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19190613/058/0004 

Forces War Records, UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1278/uk-soldiers-died-in-the-great-war-1914-1919 : accessed 3 Apr 2026), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1278/uk-soldiers-died-in-the-great-war-1914-1919 

Forces War Records, UK, WWI, Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923 : accessed 3 Apr 2026), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-19 

British Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929Chatham1914 - 1915442001-443500 

Forces War Records, UK, WWI, British Army Medal Roll Index Cards, 1914-1920 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/932/uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920 : accessed 3 Apr 2026), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/932/uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920 

ANCESTRY STAFFORDSHIRE BMD 1837-2017. 

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12695, ED 14, Sch 48; Book: 12695