Born in 1913, Hughes was the only son of Garnet Hughes, who commanded the 1st and 5th Canadian Infantry Divisions during the First World War, and was named after his grandfather Sam Hughes, Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence during that war.
Born in 1913, Hughes was the only son of Garnet Hughes, who commanded the 1st and 5th Canadian Infantry Divisions during the First World War, by his marriage to Elizabeth Irene Bayliss Newling in 1910. He was named after his grandfather Sam Hughes, Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence during that war.