RIC Auxiliary Cadet Frederick Hugo

RIC Auxiliary Cadet Frederick Hugo (aged 40) from Southgate, London (Kilmichael ambush)

Date of incident: 28 Nov. 1920

Sources: CE, 30 Nov., 1, 3 Dec. 1920; II, 30 Nov., 6 Dec. 1920; CCE, 4 Dec. 1920; Military Inquests, WO 35/152/1 (TNA); Patrick O’Brien’s WS 812, 14-17 (BMH); Timothy Keohane’s WS 1295, 5-7 (BMH); Edward Young’s WS 1402, 13-16 (BMH); Barry (1949, 1989), 36-51; Deasy (1973), 169-76; Hart (1998), 21-38; Abbott (2000), 156-63; Kautt (2010), 99-118; Leeson (2011), 101, 129; Sheehan (2011), 14, 30, 121, 146; Morrison (2012), 160-72; Townshend (2013), 210-15; Murphy (2014), 65-156; irishmedals.org (accessed 28 July 2014); http://www.theauxiliaries.com/men-alphabetical/men-h/hugo/hugo.html (accessed 27 Sept. 2015); http://theauxiliaries.com/companies/c-coy/c-coy.html (accessed 28 April 2016).   

Note: A native of London, Hugo was one of the Auxiliaries killed or mortally wounded in perhaps the greatest single disaster suffered by crown forces in Ireland during the war of 1919-21. He had been a member of the ADRIC for barely two weeks, having joined the force on 16 November 1920. He had previously served as a major in the Royal Engineers in the Indian army. He had been awarded the OBE, the Military Cross, and the Mons Star for valour in the Great War. He was buried at Southgate, London. See Abbott (2000), 162. Major Hugo’s ‘coffin was borne to the grave by a platoon commander and 5 cadets of the deceased’s company [C Company of the ADRIC]. The firing party were brought from Ireland. Deceased’s father was interred in the same ground two months ago. Major Hugo joined up at the outbreak of war [in 1914] and sought adventure in Czecho-Slovakia. He then, unknown to his family, who thought he was gone to Russia, came to Ireland, and the first the family knew of his presence in Ireland was the announcement of his death.’ See II, 6 Dec. 1920.