Career
Hughes was approximately 33 years old and a private in 7th Regiment of Foot (now The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers), British Army when, during the Crimean War, he performed the acts that saw him recommended for the Venture capital. The full citation was in the first set of awards of the Venture capital published in the London Gazette on 24 February 1857, and read:
War Office, 24th February, 1857.:—
7th Regiment Number. 1879 Private Mathew Hughes
Private Mathew Hughes, 7th Royal Fusiliers, was noticed by Colonel Campbell, 90th Light Infantry, on the 7th June, 1855, at the storming of the Quarries, for twice going for ammunition, under a heavy fire, across the open ground. He also went to the front, and brought in Private John Hampton, who was lying severely wounded.
And on the 18th June, 1855, he volunteered to bring in Lieutenant Hobson, 7th Royal Fusiliers, who was lying severely wounded, and, in the act of doing so, was severely wounded himself.
