I'm coming to the conclusion that Hugh was a bit free with the truth.
In the AIF file there is a letter from an American trying to find him in 1935. In it he says Hugh was a 1st Lt in the Australian Army and was discharged on account of a wound received in battle! The American does echo the story of his volunteering into the navy, he says Hugh served on a transport carrying American soldiers to France and also that he was the storeroom clerk on the HMT Kursk in 1918. Whether they are the same ship is unclear...
If he was entitled to the Mercantile Marine War medal then he didnt do any war time transits in a war zone. Unsure what the eligibilty of just British War Medal means maybe he just left home port ?
In his letter to Base Records in 1940 (in AIF file) Hugh says this about his time in the navy - "drafted to HMAT Kursk being among others sent across in a destroyer & joined the ship at Brest in France sailing under the white ensign under Captain Brittaine (late of the Queen Mary) & saw service in the Mediterranean & Argean Seas, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea & White Sea during service I was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer holding position of Storekeeper... I was discharged on 26 July 1919 certificate No. 980533, For ability Very Good, In general conduct Very Good & was issued with the British War Medal." and later he says - "I deserted to get into active service & believe me we saw plenty."
(The reason he was writing to the Military in 1940? He wanted to join up again! As he was over 46 he couldn't serve unless he was a returned soldier, hence the explanatory letter. They advised him to try with the Naval authorities. It appears he succeeded because in the 1949 electoral rolls his occupation reads 'R.A.N.'.)
He really is an intriguing person...
I think I need to look into the Kursks records, if possible.
Thanks, Mo