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On the 14 November 1917, in Scotland, 2nd Lieutenant Eric Hughes was training in a BE2e of 77 Squadron RFC, when he collided with a Sopwith Camel, flown by 2nd Lt. Mark Hilliard Armstrong, a Canadian. Both men were killed outright in the accident, and are buried in the Buried in Edinburgh (Comely Bank) Cemetery. Armstrong was practicing landings at the time of the accident.

Hughes was born at Eidsvold Queensland, and was only 23 years old when he died. He had served with the 4th Division Ammunition Column while in the AIF, and his brother Private Robert Hughes also served with the 5th Light Horse Regiment AIF and returned to Australia in 1919.

Eric Hughes’ mother wrote a long and moving letter to the AIF in June of 1919 seeking the help of the AIF authorities in recovering her son’s kit and back pay. Mrs. Hughes, of Bundaberg Queensland, who had been in ill health for many months, had received a letter from an officer of the RFC asking if she would be prepared to sell some of her son’s kit or have it all forwarded to her. She had information that showed her son was owed some 92 pounds by the Imperial War Office, and despite her most strenuous efforts at correspondence with the War Office and the RFC, she had received no reply on either matter. In fact, she had she was forwarded an invoice for his funeral expenses by the RFC requiring the payment of 17 pounds 3 shillings and 6 pence and in her words “a very nasty reminder letter. And to crown it all they allow me the large sum of seven shillings per week pension for such a good son as I lost.”

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 14th November…… Eric Hughes was born at Eidsvold, Queensland in 1893. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 22nd January, 1915 as a 22 year old, single, Clerk from South Bundaberg, Queensland.

Private Eric Hughes was posted with 7th Reinforcements of 2nd Light Horse Regiment.
On 4th August, 1915 Private Eric Hughes was recorded as a Deserter.

Eric Hughes re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) in October, 1915. He was posted to 16th Reinforcements of 5th Light Horse Regiment on 3rd January, 1916.

Private Eric Hughes embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Mashobra (A47) on 5th April, 1916 with the 5th Light Horse Regiment, 16th Reinforcements.

He embarked on HMAT Corsican from Alexandria (no date recorded) & was taken on strength of 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment on 9th May, 1916. Private Hughes was taken on strength 4th D.A.C. (Divisional Ammunition Column) from 4th Div. B Details on 9th May, 1916.

Private Hughes was transferred to Artillery Details at Tel el Kebir on 25th May, 1916 with rank of Gunner. Gunner Eric Hughes disembarked at Plymouth, England (no date recorded).

Gunner Hughes was written up for a Crime on 15th June, 1916 while posted at Parkhouse, Wiltshire - Absent without Leave from 10 pm on 12th June, 1916 till 1 pm on 14th June, 1916 (2 days). He forfeited 3 days’ pay & was awarded 2 days Field Punishment No. 2.

He was written up again on 21st July, 1916 while posted at Bulford, Wiltshire – 1. Disobeying an order not to leave Camp after being warned for draft therefore evading embarkation. 2. A.W.L. from 22.00 on 18th July, 1916 to 01.00 on 21st July, 1916. 4 days. He was awarded 7 days detention & forfeited a total of 11 days’ pay.

On 4th November, 1916 Gunner Eric Hughes was seconded to R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps). He was detached to 1st R.F.C. Officers Cadet Battalion in England from 14th November, 1916 & was marched in to Exeter on 26th January, 1917 and was taken on strength from that date.

Eric Hughes received a Commission in Royal Flying Corps on 16th March, 1917 as Second Lieutenant (on Probation). (London Gazette 10 April, 1917). He was discharged from Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on consequence of being appointed to a commission in the Royal Flying Corps with effect from 16th March, 1917.

Second Lieutenant Eric Hughes was attached to No. 77 Squadron at Edinburgh, Scotland.

On 14th November, 1917 Second Lieutenant Eric Hughes was flying a B.E.2e Serial number B4011 when he collided in the air with a Sopwith Camel Serial number B6262 piloted by Second Lieutenant Hilliar Mark Armstrong, from Ontario, Canada, also of Royal Flying Corps.
Second Lieutenant Eric Hughes was killed whilst flying on 14th November, 1917 above the railway line between Corstorphine and the Firth of Forth, Scotland.
A Court of Inquiry was held: “The Court having considered the evidence is of the opinion that the apparent cause of the collision was that neither pilot saw the other on account of the BE2E pilot watching his target & the Camel pilot watching the landing circle. There was no breach of aerodrome discipline. Lt Armstrong was practising landings while Lt Hughes was practising dummy bombdropping. Lt Armstrong was instructed to go up for the first half hour to practice turning & throttling his engine & for the 2nd half hour to practice landings. 2Lt Hughes was instructed to go up & practice bomb dropping. 2Lt’s B.E.2E caught fire on striking the ground.”

Second Lieutenant Eric Hughes & Second Lieutenant Hilliard Mark Armstrong were both buried in Craigleith Cemetery, Edinburgh , now known as Comely Bank Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/comely-bank.html