Major-General I T P Hughes KCVO CB CBE DSO MC

Major-General I T P HughesCommanded 1/6th Bn The Queen's Royal Regiment from November 1939 to October 1940. Previously he had commanded the 4th Battalion in 1938 and 1939.

Ivor Thomas Percival Hughes was born on 21st December 1897 and educated at Wellington College and the RMC Sandhurst. He was commissioned in The Queen's Royal Regiment in August 1916 and served with the 1st Battalion in France for two years, being twice wounded. He was awarded the Military Cross and Mentioned in Despatches. In 1919 he went to India with the 2nd Battalion where for his services on the North West Frontier he was again Mentioned in Despatches. In 1925, he was appointed adjutant and after the Battalion had returned to UK attended the Staff College, Camberley He rejoined the 2nd Battalion and then held various staff appointments.

In 1935 he left the Army on appointment as Assistant to the Sergeant-at Arms in the House of Commons. In 1937 he joined the 4th Battalion (TA) as second-in-command and early in 1938 was appointed to command but had to resign early in 1939 owing to his duties at Westminster. On the outbreak of war he was recalled and in November 1939 was appointed to command the1/6th Battalion which he led in France in 1940 and was awarded the DSO. in 1941 he commanded 219th Infantry Brigade and from 1941 to 1942 commanded l31st (Queen's) Brigade and from 1942 to 1943 was GOC 44th Division which he led at the Battle of El Alamein. He then commanded XXV Corps in Cyprus He was made a CB for his services in the Western Desert Campaign. From 1944 to 1945 he commanded the Military Liaison Forces in the Balkans and was again Mentioned in Despatches. He was also awarded the Greek Military Cross (First Class).

After the 1939-45 War he left the Army and returned to his duties at Westminster.

In 1951 as Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms, he was made a CBE.

In 1957 he was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms and in the Birthday Honours in 1962 was made a KCVO but died before he could receive the accolade from Her Majesty. He was Honorary Colonel of the 6th Battalion from 1949 to 1955.

He died on 16th August 1962.

For obituary see the Journal of The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Vol.1 No.6 November 1962 page 373

 

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