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Geoffrey Forrest Hughes

Geoffrey Forrest Hughes
Photograph of two men in formal military uniform. The man on the left is a naval officer's uniform, and has a cap, white gloves, a ceremonial sword and has medal ribbons on his chest. The man on the right is also in a military officer's uniform, and is wearing a cap, leather gloves and medals. He is carrying a ceremonial sword in his right hand. Other men in military uniform can be seen in the background.
Geoffrey Hughes (right) speaking with Prince Albert during the latter's tour of Australia in 1927.
Born 12 July 1895
Darling Point, New South Wales
Died 13 September 1951(1951-09-13) (aged 56)
Lewisham, New South Wales
Buried at Waverley Cemetery
Allegiance  Australia
 United Kingdom
Service/branch Australian Army
Royal Flying Corps
Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service 1914–1919
1940–1943
Rank Group Captain
Battles/wars First World War
Second World War
Awards Military Cross
Air Force Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Relations Tom Hughes (son)
Robert Hughes (son)

Geoffrey Forrest Hughes MC, AFC (12 July 1895 – 13 September 1951) was an Australian aviator and flying ace of the First World War. He was credited with 11 aerial victories, and won a Military Cross for his valour. After a postwar award of the Air Force Cross, he returned to Australia and completed university. He became a businessman and a solicitor in the family law firm while retaining his interests in aviation. From 1925 through 1934, he was president of the Royal Australian Aero Club, and largely responsible for government support of the club. Despite his business concerns, he returned to military duty during the Second World War. He commanded an aviation training school and rose to the rank of group captain before surrendering his commission in April 1943. After the war ended, he moved into public life and the political realm.

Geoffrey Forrest Hughes was born in the Sydney suburb of Darling Point on 12 July 1895. He was the second son of Thomas Hughes, a solicitor and future Lord Mayor of Sydney, and Louisa (née Gilhooley); he was of Irish descent on both sides, with roots in County Roscommon. Hughes received his secondary education at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, before undertaking a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Sydney from 1914. In June that year, he was commissioned as an officer in the 26th Infantry Regiment, Citizens Military Force. In his youth, Hughes had acquired a keen interest in aviation, which led him to apply for the Australian Flying Corps; his application was unsuccessful.


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