Hughes, John (Harry)
[Personal communication, Angela Johnson, relative of Koombana passenger John (Harry) Hughes, January & February, 2019]
On 23 January 2019, Angela Johnson made contact with the author via koombanadays.com.
Angela describes "Harry" Hughes as her second great uncle.
Uncle Johnny was a magnificent horsemen, she writes, who travelled to Australia for a show.
He had been expected to return, and the family had been shocked to hear of his death on the opposite side of Australia.
The family had not known that Harry had taken work aboard Koombana as a second grade steward. They had presumed that he was a passenger.
Family records include an excellent photograph of a very dapper young man.
His full name was probably John Henry Hughes.
He hailed from Swansea in Wales, still home to family members, although Angela has migrated to the USA and now lives in Washington State.
[Photograph of John (Harry) Hughes, courtesy Angela Johnson]
John (Harry) Hughes, before his departure for Australia.
[SS "Koombana": list of crew as per copy of Articles at shipping office, Fremantle, Adelaide Steamship Company, April 1912. provided to the author by Jean Northover, City Beach, Western Australia]
THE CREW AGE BIRTHPLACE
...
J. Hughes, second grade steward 24 Swansea
...
["Story of the Koombana", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 31 March 1912, page 12]
...
P. Farrance, A. Deeham, C. H. Benedict, Edward Wardlaw, J. Hughes, J. Blades, A. Salkild, S. W. Reynolds, F. J. Winpenny, Wm. Dick, James Crosbie, Wm. Cant, R. Davies, W. Burkin, H. Smith and P. Finnerty, stewards.
...
["Officers and Crew", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 31 March 1912, page 1]
...
Several stewards, whose names appear on the articles of the Koombana, may not have joined the vessel. Captain Smith, the Port shipping master, asks that in this event the men who did not go should notify him.
...
["The Crew", The West Australian, Wednesday 03 April 1912, page 7]
The following is the complete crew which left with the vessel, according to the records in the Adelaide Co.'s office:--
...
P. Farrance, A. Deerham, C. H. Benedicte, E. Wardlaw, J. Hughes, J. Blades, A. Salkild, S. W. Reynolds, F. J. Winpenny, Wm. Dick, James Crosbie, Wm. Cant, R. Davis, W. Burkin, H. Smith, and P. Finnerty, stewards.
...
["The Koombana", The West Australian, Friday 12 April 1912, page 7]
OFFICIAL LIST OF CREW
The following official list of the names of the crew who signed on the s.s. Koombana's articles and who were supposed to have gone in the vessel is supplied by the Shipping Master of Fremantle (Captain T. W. Smith). The age, birthplace, and capacity of each member is given:--
...
J. Hughes, 24, Swansea, assistant steward;
...
[Agreement and Account of Crew, s.s. Koombana, August 1911 - March 1912, Harbour and Lights Department, Western Australia. State Records Office of Western Australia, Consignment 1056 Item 301]
The register indicates that J. Hughes, 24, England, joined Koombana (his first ship) for Trip #36, February 1912.
[Wreck of the KOOMBANA - letters re men's estates, Correspondence between the office of the Chief Harbourmaster, Fremantle, and the families of lost crewmembers, Harbour and Lights Department, 1912. State Records Office of Western Australia, AN16/5 Cons 1056 Item 062]
my img 839
Letter from Accountant General, Board of Trade, London,
to Secretary, Marine Board, Port Adelaide.
BOARD OF TRADE,
(Finance Department),
7, Whitehall Gardens,
LONDON, S.W.
21st May 1912.
Sir,
I am directed by the Board of Trade to acquaint you
that they have received claims from Harry Hughes, 21 Cecil
Street, Manselton, Swansea (father) - Thomas Taylor, 2,
Easons Angle, Dundee (father) and Catherine Kearns, 36,
Malcolmson Street, Belfast (Widow) for the wages respect-
ively due to the seamen Harry Hughes, Thomas Taylor and
John Kearns who appear to have been serving on the
"Koombanna" Official Number 122725 of Port Adelaide at the
time of her loss in March last.
If any balances of wages are due to the above named
or to any other seamen of the "Koombanna" who are known to
have left relatives in the United Kingdom the Board will be
obliged by your remitting the amounts to this Department
in order that the claims of the legal heirs may be
satisfied.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(signed) Geo. Fry,
Accountant General.
The Secretary,
Marine Board,
Port Adelaide,
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
[Wreck of the KOOMBANA - letters re men's estates, Correspondence between the office of the Chief Harbourmaster, Fremantle, and the families of lost crewmembers, Harbour and Lights Department, 1912. State Records Office of Western Australia, AN16/5 Cons 1056 Item 062]
my img 884
14th August
Sir,
In reply to yours of the 21st May addressed to the
Marine Board, Port Adelaide, which has been forwarded on to me,
I have to state as follows:-
Harry Hughes, wages due £3/10/-
Thomas Taylor, " " £7/-/-, draft forwarded
herewith.
On the application of W. Carton, I forward herewith
draft for wages due (£6/8/-) to his late father Wm. Carton,
A.B. of the S.S. "KOOMBANA". Mr. Carton's address is, Sunhill,
Termonfecken, Drogheda, Ireland, and I have requested him to
communicate with you.
I am enclosing herewith a draft drawn on the Agent
General in you favour to the amount of £16/16/-, being above
wages due, less exchange [-/2/- filled in later].
Yours faithfully,
[this copy unsigned]
SHIPPING MASTER.
