Colonel Hughes, CMG, DSO (1866-1954)

Patricia Hutchison 

First published in Ngā Ākau ki te Tonga Southern Bays number 1 2005

In 1916 Colonel Hughes, with his wife Marion (Maisie) and three children - two sons and one daughter - took up residence in the house at 16 Ribble Street, Island Bay. 

John Gethin Hughes, known as Jackie, was born at Campbeltown (Bluff) on 13 March 1866. He was the son of Mary Agnes McLean and her husband, also John Gethin Hughes, a mariner. Hughes attended school in Akaroa and Timaru. His interest in all things military began in Timaru, and continued during his time in Napier where he worked as a law clerk. 

Following the outbreak of the South Africa War in October 1899, Hughes enlisted in the First New Zealand Contingent as a Private. The regiment embarked for South Africa in 1899. His abilities were quickly recognised and in 1899 he was commissioned in the field as a Lieutenant. Following another encounter he became the first New Zealand serviceman to be awarded a DSO, and he was also mentioned in dispatches before his unit returned to New Zealand in January 1901. He briefly returned to South Africa in 1902 as a captain in the Tenth Contingent. Prior to the First World War, Hughes held various staff positions in the New Zealand forces. It was not until January 1907, after Premier Richard Seddon's death, that he was belatedly promoted to Major. He felt, probably with some justification, that he was the victim of unfair treatment by Richard Seddon, the Minister of Defence. 

On 8 May 1909 Hughes married Marion De Vere O'Connor in Wellington. Maisie, as she was known to family and friends, was the grand-daughter of Sir John Martin, founder of Martinborough. 

Her uncle, Dr Albert Martin, was one of the first doctors to help at the Home of Compassion in Island Bay. In 1909 Hughes and his wife travelled to Australia and then to England. On their return late in 1910, Hughes transferred to the newly established New Zealand Staff Corps. 

Despite years of trying, Hughes was never able to access his superannuation entitlements (which he had paid into for 16 years) and never knew the reason why. 

Despite this setback Hughes is described in an Army report as "having a personality which drew people to him', soon became well-known in the Island Bay community. Shirley Lye recalls ‘the Colonel' presenting prizes at end of year functions at the Island Bay School, and being in great demand as guest speaker for many local organizations. He was elected patron of the Island Bay Returned Services Auxiliary when it was formed in 1933, and his name appears in several historical publications as one of the Bay's well-known identities. Hughes' wife Maisie, was also well known, and remembered by many as being very kind and gracious. During the 1918 'flu epidemic, her awareness of the distress of the people in the neighbourhood was invaluable in alerting the Sisters of Compassion to any new cases that occurred. During the Depression she was President of the St Vincent de Paul (Women's Division) Society (St Francis de Sales Parish) whose members did much to alleviate the hardship experienced by many families in the Bay. In order to raise a little revenue to boost their funds, the women decided to take turn-about hosting an occasional small bridge party in their homes. 

There would probably be three card tables with each player contributing a silver coin donation. Mrs Hughes never missed her turn despite the inconvenience of the roof leaking if it happened to be raining. The writer of this article was reminded recently of Mrs Hughes' ability to quietly seek out those in need of help, when on Sunday mornings after Mass she would gather together a number of children from a large family, bring them home with her and serve them breakfast. They looked upon her as a very kind friend. Of the three Hughes children, Robert Gethin, the elder son, was ordained a priest, Suzanne trained as a Karitane nurse, and Pat became an orchardist in Hawkes Bay.