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HUBART Lance Corporal, 4th Panzer Regiment, German
Army. Age unknown Died 3.7.1944
Lance Corporal HUBART, died on Monday 3rd July 1944, at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gosport, of war wounds, which were received military
operations overseas. Lance Corporal HUBART, was buried in the German Plot of the War Graves Section (see plans on back pages), Row 3 Grave 3, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Private WILLIAM HUGGINS, R.M.L.I. PO/12926, Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Vindictive. Age 33 Died 23.4.1918
Private WILLIAM HUGGINS, Royal Marine Light Infantry, was the son of William and Elizabeth Huggins, who lived at No. 15 Ferrol Road, Gosport. He
was born at Egham in Surrey. The port of Zebrugge, was a main base for the fleets of ‘U-boats’ – German submarines. These U-boats, were causing mayhem in the Atlantic, off the coast of
Ireland, sinking a large tonnage of merchant shipping, which caused the colossal totals of human lives lost. At the admiralty, a plan was evolved, to launch a combined air and sea assault on the port.
The object was to destroy, incapacitate or strand the U-boats and wreck the port facilities, capable of repairing and maintaining.
A plan to push land forces forward, to overrun the port had not been possible, the defending Germans, putting up a tremendous fight, so that
idea was shelved. Next it was found that an attack by aircraft was not possible owing to the distance the aircraft would have to travel, and that there were no aircraft available with that range. So once
again the plan changed. Finally, it was decided that an assault would be made by initial bombardment from cruisers followed up by an amphibious assault by Marines. On the night of the 23rd April 1918,
under the light of a full moon, the cruiser HMS Vindictive closed on the shore, under the cover of a smokescreen. Just at the vital moment, a land breeze blew the smokescreen away, and the shore defences
opened up on the now exposed cruiser. She sustained severe damage, although she did in return, put up a brief bombardment. In the action she was unable to position herself in the correct place, and was
unable to support the landing forces.
Blockship’s (expendable vessels) filled with concrete, were supposed to open their seacocks, so that they sank to the seabed. They were
not able to position themselves correctly, and were unsuccessful in blocking the main channel, which allowed the port to be used. One submarine was able to blast a large hole in the port’s viaduct,
but the end result was that the attack, which had cost over 500 casualties, was only marginally successful. The port was back in full use within a month. Back in this Country however, the result was seen
as a tremendous victory, and morale both in the forces and in the civilian population was considerably improved. HMS Vindictive, was so badly damaged, that se had to be towed back to this country.
Amongst those who had been killed aboard the cruiser, was Private Huggins, who had been manning one of the guns.
Private WILLIAM HUGGINS, R.M.L.I., was returned to Gosport, where he was buried on the 30th April 1918, and was laid to rest, Plot 38 Space 32,
and is commemorated a CWG headstone.
Sergeant ALBERT ERNEST HUGHES, R.A.F. 353261, Sergeant, No. 3 Mechanical Transport Co., Royal Air Force. Age 38 Died 1.10.1943
Sergeant ALBERT ERNEST HUGHES, Royal Air Force, was the son of George and Amy Caroline Hughes, who lived in Gosport. He was serving with the No.
3 Mechanical Transport Company in Kent, his home address was 29 Station Road, Gosport, and he was the son of George and Amy Caroline Hughes, aged 38. He became ill during his work, much of his time,
being spent under temporary canvas accommodation, he was admitted with a high temperature, and was diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis of the lung. Sadly he died in the County Hospital, Orpington,
Kent, on Friday 1st of October 1943. After his return to Gosport, his home town, Sergeant ALBERT ERNEST HUGHES, R.A.F., was buried on 6th October 1943, in the War Graves Section (see plans on back
pages), Row 4 Grave 8, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Sapper WILLIAM FREDERICK JOHN HUNT, R.E.14627887, Sapper, Royal Engineers, 51st Division, XXX Corps Age
42 Died 8.1.1945
Sapper WILLIAM FREDERICK JOHN HUNT, Royal Engineers, was the husband of Edith Mary Hunt, of Gosport. He was wounded during
the allied liberation of Europe. Like so many others, he was given immediate medical attention at a Casualty Clearing Station, where he was patched up for transfer to a hospital ship, for onward transfer
to the first hospital facilities once back in this country. Arriving at Portsmouth Harbour, Sapper Hunt, was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital, at Haslar, Gosport. He survived the surgery performed to
remove shrapnel from his stomach. Sadly however he died from complications to his condition on Monday 8th January 1945.
Sapper WILLIAM FREDERICK JOHN HUNT, R.E., was buried on Monday 11th January 1945, in the War Graves
Section (see plans on back pages), Row 6 Grave 8, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
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