Malcolm HUGHES

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1939, Cardiff, Glamorganshire. 57 Clydesmuir Road with parents at school

• Awards, 1951, Cardiff, Glamorganshire. From London Gazette 16 November 1951
CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS
OF KNIGHTHOOD,
St. James's Palace, SWA.
20th November, 1951.
The KING has been graciously pleased to
approve the award of the George Medal to the
undermentioned: \emdash
Surgeon Lieutenant James Golding Harding
SHEPPARD, M.B., B.S., Royal Navy.
Acting Leading Sick Berth Attendant (Local)
Malcolm HUGHES, D/SMX. 868808.
On 27th April, 1951, a lighter was being
loaded with ammunition from the Naval
Auxiliary Vessel BEiDENHAM, in His
Majesty's Dockyard, Gibraltar, when a minor
explosion occurred in the lighter followed by
an intense ammunition fire. Six minutes
later a second large explosion occurred in
the lighter which cut the BEDENHAM in
two and sank her.
Immediately after the first explosion, Surgeon Lieutenant Sheppard went to the wharf
where the BEDENHAM was lying and
searched for casualties. He helped to pull
out of the water a badly burned man and
took him to an ambulance. He was walking
back towards the BEDENHAM to his first
aid box and was only about fifteen yards
away when the second explosion occurred.
He fortunately escaped unharmed and immediately began to administer first aid to
the seriously injured on the wharf. Later
he treated other casualties in the Dockyard
surgery.
Surgeon Lieutenant Sheppard showed a
total disregard for his own safety, and his
single-minded determination to do all within
his power to seek out the casualties, care for
them and relieve their pain was worthy of
the highest praise.
Leading Sick Berth Attendant Hughes
accompanied Surgeon Lieutenant Sheppard
to the wharf where the BEDENHAM was
lying, and assisted him in the care of a badly
burned man in the immediate vicinity of
the burning lighter in which ammunition was
exploding.
He was within twenty or thirty yards of
•the BEDENHAM when the large explosion
occurred, but was fortunate enough to
escape with slight shock and minor bruises.
He at once resumed his assistance with the
treatment and removal of the casualties on
the wharf, and then returned to the Dockyard
surgery to assist there with the treatment of
the injured.
The coolness, courage and devotion to duty
shown by Leading Sick Berth Attendant
Hughes in the face of extreme danger was
outstanding

Malcolm married Mary.