Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-31
LIEUT. HUGHES LOSES LIFE
ON BATTLEFIELD OF FRANCE

Following is copy Of a letter sent
! Mr. J A Hughes of Howe Texas. stat
ing the death of his son Hayes who
lost his life on the battlefields in
France.
Mrs. Hughes sent this letter to her
aunt Mrs. Edie George who ask us to
publish so relatives and friends may
know of her neices great sorrow.
Before marriage Mrs. Hughes was
Miss Patsy Hayes and resided few
miles above Lexington. She is a
daughter of the late Boliver and Lou
isa Hayes and has host of relative:
and friends in and around Lexington
who extend their greatest sympathy
to the heart stricken parents and fam
lily in the bereftment of their heroic
son who gave his life for such great
cause.
France June "a 1918.
Mr.. j. A. Hughes
Howe; Texas.
Dear Mr.. Hughes:
I want to write you - give the de-
tails attending the death of your son
End. Lieut.. James H. Hughes who was
serving in my company at the time o
his death.
The company was In support a.
bout two kilometers from the german
front lines. About 8 a. m. June 7th.
we received heavy bombardment Of
gas and high explosive shells. Hughes
platoon was occupying a small wood
in advance of rest of the company.
In case of gas concentration in the
wood his orders were to take up an
other position On high ground
which would be free Of gas. He
was preparing to move out with his
platoon when he returned to his
dugout with his Caison agent to get
som ething he had forgotten. Both of
course were wearing gas masks, When
he got to the entrance he heard
shell coming and dived to the ground
for safety. The shell exploded quite
close. Hughes was not hit but the
Caison Agent was mortally wounded
Hughes told me this about Is mia-
utes later.) He went to Hulsey's as
sistznce and carried him to the shell
ter Of his own dugout where he ad
first aid. 70 do this he
.emove9 his mas; so that he could
work better in the darkness. OF
course he knew the danger Of remov-
ng his gss mask. He dssrggsrded
he danger to save mans life No
ligher example of courage and self
acrifice has been set ! am sure in
he A. E. F. Some hours later he
7as evacuateB to the hospital where
e passed away. talked to HIM feff
omtime after ass came with Els pia- |
oon to the new .5osition where Il had
1oved with the, mst of the company, |!
[e seemed grievsl at the deadh: ofl
[ulsey (his Caisca1 agent) but G*her-s
Use well as usual You see it Ihkes s
ometime for the gag to take effect. !!
[e did not say anything about hasingi
aken off his mask and I was surpris-
about two hours Eater when nss- I
anger came to say he had gore tt
1e hospital.
I regarded him as: my most valua-
le officer. Personally he was ore of :
ne most attractive rn1n I have ever
let. If anything car Be of consola-
IN to you and to MIS- Hughes it
Mould be that he diecS ii the noblest
ause and in the noblesr: manneT pos
ible. AS a soldier al officer and a
entleman he was ahcEe Eepr,ach.
lis effects will be forwarded ts3 ytu
rom the hospital and from the eff
ects hepot here. His grave is liz the
emetery at Cempanis Department of :
Use France.
f I can be of any service to you
yer here I beg you to Gail OF me- His
rother Officers of the cunnpa1ry ex-
end to you and Mrs. Hughes sheir
most heartfelt sympathy:
I am sincerely Yours
J. w. Rirtlgcrfs5
CAPTAIN 26th. Infantry Isl DIEIsion !
4 E. T.