Sub-Lieutenant Hywell W. Hughes is recorded as missing presumed killed while serving aboard the Motor Torpedo Boat No. 308 - hence the prefix His Majesty's Motor Torpedo Boat (HMMTB) on 14 September 1942.
His boat was part of the Royal Navy Forces deployed as part of Operation AGREEMENT, a British naval raid undertaken against the port of Tobruk on the night of 13-14 September. Royal Navy destroyers, an anti-aircraft cruiser, eighteen MTBs and three launches took part in the raid along with 350 Royal Marines that were to be landed.
After heavy attacks overnight by the RAF an attempt was made to land troops on the morning of the 14th. Sadly, the attempt failed and only few Royal Marines made it to shore and they were quickly captured. Sub-Lieutenant Hughes MTB 308 was sunk along with MTB 310 & MTB 311 by the Italian 13th Fighter Bomber Group under the command of Major Viale which also sank the destroyer HMS Zulu.
Sub-Lieutenant Hughes was killed while aboard the boat by Italian bombs. As the MTBs were made out of wood and had petrol engines they would explode very readily. However, I would not doubt his and his fellow shipmates' courage and determination to press home their attack.