Gun nest to win the Victoria Cross
tal, a palatial place on the bank of the Southampton water where many onsets have found comfortable quarters after their heroic efforts. It is fortunate that they are recovering from their wounds received in the defence of the old Country, for Britain can ill afford to spare such heroic qualities.
“As in the days of old, when a veteran returned to his home, he had a hearty reception; so, too, must Pte T. Hughes, if he returned to Hednesford, which it is stated he will do bye and bye. None will be more cordially welcome him than will the Chairman of the Urban District Council, and other residents of the capital of the Chase Mining District, while Father Boyle will also welcome one of the first in the Catholic Diocese, who won such a distinction by bravery. But then it was always thus: when the difficulty arose, the men were sent there to confront it; that is if the conflict was for truth, justice, and righteousness.”
At a ceremony in Hyde Park on 2 June, 1917, Hughes, still on his crutches due to his wounds, was presented his Victoria Cross by King George V. He was discharged as no longer fit for war service on 12 February, 1918, and a few months later he was invited back to Cannock Chase to boost attendance at Hednesford and Cannock War Weapons Week in July 1918. During a ceremony presided over by his friend Reverend P.J. Boyle at Anglesey Lawns he was again presented his Victoria Cross by Colonel R.S. Williamson, along with a locally funded ‘appreciation’ (no details are available, but sometimes this could be War Bonds, a watch or a framed ‘illustrated address’).
Streamers and flags were put up around Anglesey Lawn, and investors proceeded to the ‘Selling Centre’ in Market Hall to invest in the War Savings Certificates and War Bonds.
Family farm
Eventually Hughes returned to Ireland, where he helped run the family farm in his home town with his sister Annie and her son Michael. The people of Castleblayney collected a sum of money, and he purchased the hill farm near Castleblayney. After Home Rule in 1921, with Ireland becoming divided along religious lines, Thomas Hughes struggled with his fame, seen as having taken “The King’s Shilling,” and became increasingly dependent on alcohol.
Thomas Hughes never married, but is understood to have had an illegitimate son, Ken, who was born in England. He died at his home at Fincarn on 4 January, 1942, leaving his medals including the Victoria Cross to his sister Annie, who later sold it to a London dealer. Members of the Connaught Rangers Association purchased the Victoria Cross from the same dealer in December 1959 for £500 and presented it to the Sandhurst Military Museum. The medal later passed to the National Army Museum, Chelsea.
DUDLEY is well-known as the “home-brew” capital of the Midlands, with around 150 pubs once brewing their own beer on the premises, but there were also several commercial breweries in and around the town centre.
Probably the most wellknown local brewery was Hanson’s. Originally established as a wine and spirits business in 1847 by Thomas Hanson, when he died in 1870, his widow, Julia, took over the company and expanded the business.
Tied houses
When she died in 1894, her sons, Thomas and William, started to buy up local pubs, including the Peacock Hotel and brewery in 1895. In 1897, they built a new brewery next door and by 1919, had
over 100 tied houses.
They then took over Frederick Tandy’s brewery (Kidderminster) and by 1934 had taken over Smith & William’s Town Brewery (Round Oak) with its 60 tied houses, in the biggest sale of licensed property in the area at the time.
As part of this £120,000 deal, they also bought the Stewponey & Foley Arms Hotel at Stourton and the White Hart Hotel in Kinver, and in 1942, took over the Red Lion Brewery in
Lower Gornal.
However, over the years, Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries had been buying shares in the company, and by 1943 had gained a controlling interest.
Mild
The production of Hanson’s bitter then shifted to Wolverhampton, but Hanson’s distinctive dark Mild continued to be brewed at Dudley until 1991 when the brewery closed, and continued at Wolverhampton until 2007. Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries eventually amalgamated with Marston’s (Burton-ontrent).
Most of the other breweries had a much shorter life. In Kates Hill, Henry Cox established the Dudley New Brewery in 1820, and rebuilt it as a 10-quarter brewery in 1830, adding two malthouses. By 1835, it had been renamed as Henry Cox & Co to avoid confusion with the Dudley Old Brewery at Burnt Tree.
Furnaces
However, in 1840, the brewery, with two copper furnaces, mash tuns and vats was put up for auction
and sold in May 1841. Along with the adjoining Malt Shovel pub, it became Kate’s Hill Brewery, run by Samuel Salt from 1879.
From 1892-1910, it was managed by his son-inlaw, John Foley, when it was acquired by Thomas Plant (Netherton) and brewing ceased. In 1899, Joseph Plant established the Diamond Brewery in Cromwell Street, but by 1901 the company was bankrupt. The brewery, along with its brewery tap, the Black Horse, and the Loving Lamb, were
acquired by Hutchings & Jackson in 1901. The brewery was bought by Darby’s Brewery (West Bromwich) in 1937, along with its 21 tied houses.
In Hall Street, George England established the Dudley Brewery in 1823. By 1851, it was being run by his son, George Joseph, employing 35 men, including one who stole five bags of malt and sold them to a Netherton publican.
By 1867, George was bankrupt and the brewery was bought by William Smith (Netherton), but a year later, George England and Rous John Cooper bought it back for £7,000. In 1871, Rous Cooper bought out George England, but in 1874, a tall chimney stack fell in a gale and caused £200 of damage to the brewery.
Bankrupt
By 1881, the company was almost bankrupt and was taken over by George Thompson & Son who, by then, also owned the Victoria Brewery. In 1890, the new company, Dudley & Victoria Breweries, merged with Banks & Co and Fox Brewery (Wolverhampton) to become Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries.
In 1873, John Dawes established the Victoria