223923 Fus. Hugh Best British Army 5th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers from:Armagh, Co. Armagh Hugh Best joined the 5th Bn. R.I.F. during its formation at Portobello Barracks, Dublin, during August 1914.
His home was at Lonsdale St. Armagh, were he lived with his wife Margaret (nee Armstrong) and six children (ages 2 to 16 approx.)
After training in Ireland, the Btn. along with the rest of the 10th (Irish) Div. were moved to Basingstoke, Hampshire, England in about May 1915. The 5th Bn. embarked at Devonport (nr. Plymouth) on the 11th July '15. The ship sailed on the early hours of the 12th of July (as per War Diary for 5th Bn. and not the 7th of July as mentioned in other reports). After the journey via Gibraltar, Malta, Egypt and the Greek Islands the 5th Btn. were landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 7th of August 1915. Hugh was wounded on or after this date and it is assumed that he went through the medical evacuation process and eventually arrived in Armagh. Meanwhile during his time away his wife Margaret died from cancer. Hugh remarried before the war was over and details on his marriage certificate stated that he was serving with A Company, 1st. Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. This Battalion was in France and Flanders. I do not know when he joined, where he served or when he left the 1st Bn.
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