Hugh Babington was born on 1 September 1892, the son of Charles Hagert Babington and Grace Dameris Matilda Babington of Croan, Cornwall. He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet at The Royal Naval College, Osbourne on the Isle of Wight.

He was promoted Midshipman on 15 May 1910 and, on 27 June 1912 he was appointed to the Battleship HMS THUNDERER (2nd Battle Squadron). He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant in September 1912, then Lieutenant in June 1914. Submarine training followed in May 1914 and he was subsequently appointed to HMS C33 as First Lieutenant in August 1914, followed by HMS C17, F1 and G3. His first Command was HMS C5 in October 1916, followed in October 1917 by HMS H15.

After a spell in General Service, during which commanded the ‘Q’ Ship HMS PC63 and served in the cruiser HMS FOX, Babington died of meningitis at Malling in Kent whilst on leave on 27 November 1919. 

He was awarded the DSC for services in Russia in 1919 ‘for distinguished services during operations on shore and in connection with Mine Laying’.  In the citation for his DSC, the Senior Naval Officer, Archangel River Expedition wrote:

‘Has throughout the operations displayed exceptional enterprise and zeal. As officer in charge of the Naval Observation position on the left bank, his services were most valuable in keeping contact between the flotilla and front line and communicating news of enemy movements. The living conditions were particularly hard but Lieut. Babington was always cheerful and keen for any enterprise. Subsequently he took charge of the laying of the Dvina and Vaga river minefields and, overcoming many difficulties and extemporising most of the arrangements, he completed the work in a way which marks him as an officer of exceptional ability and resource.’

Hugh Babington was the husband of Mabel Nest Babington of ‘Ledgers’, Chelsham, Warlingham, Surrey. He is buried in the South West corner of the Chelsham (St. Leonards) Churchyard in Surrey.