Ripon War Memorial: remembering Vyvyan Hughes (1888-1916)

Yesterday we visited Beaufort, 50 kilometers west of Ballarat. The daffodils planted around the War Memorial were at their best. On the memorial I noticed the name of my great great uncle Vyvyan Hughes (1888-1916). I have previously written about his war service and death.

Beaufort war memorial August 2016

BEAUFORT’S FINE RESPONSE. (1916, February 7). The Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1869 – 1878; 1914 – 1918), p. 4 (DAILY.). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74499619

The Hughes family had two sons and a son-in-law serving in World War I. The son-in-law was my great grandfather Constantine Trent Champion de Crespigny.

Vyvyan and Olive Hughes shortly before Vyvyan’s departure in April 1916.

No title (1916, May 5). Dunolly and Betbetshire Express and County of Gladstone Advertiser (Vic. : 1915 – 1918), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152662969

In August 1918 an Avenue of Honour of 500 deciduous trees was planted at Beaufort. The war service of both Vyvyan and his brother Cedric was commemorated in this avenue. Each had a tree.

The Beaufort War Memorial was unveiled in 1927 by Brigadier-General Robert Smith, formerly of the 5th Brigade, AIF. Vyvyan Hughes was one of 70 fallen soldiers whose names are recorded on the memorial.

“BACK TO BEAUFORT” CELEBRATIONS. (1927, April 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), p. 11. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3849478

In the Victorian Heritage Database the Beaufort memorial is said to be a one-third size replica of the Salisbury Plains memorial.

In fact the design is based on a monument called the Poultry Cross in the main street of the city of Salisbury. The Poultry Cross is a market cross constructed in the 14th century and modified in the 18th century.