In 1915 he rejoined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve where he reached the rank of Paymaster Lieutenant Commander by the end of the war.
[1] Hughes returned to the United Kingdom, unsuccessfully contesting the south London constituency of Peckham at the 1918 general election as an independent candidate.
I accepted them in their entirety, as coming not only from two right honourable members of the House of Commons in their personal capacity, but from two gentlemen holding the high and responsible offices of Prime Minister and Attorney General of the realm of Great Britain."
"If ever the time arrives when the considered statements, made under such grave circumstances, of two gentlemen holding such exalted offices must be doubted, then is this country the end of all political honour and integrity is at hand."
[11][12] In August 1929 Hughes was involved in a major controversy whilst a passenger on board the liner S S Bendigo sailing from Cape Town to Perth, Western Australia.
[15] Due to the anger of the passengers Hughes was placed under the protection of armed guards, eventually issuing a written apology.
[16] From 1942 to 1943 Hughes was the manager of the Daily Express Centre of Public Opinion (a polling organisation), and from 1943 to 1945 he was general secretary of the Council of Retail Distributors.