Football played a key part in both men managing to survive the mental scars of their experiences during World War II with Mr Hughes even enjoying a kickaround on the beaches of Dunkirk.
It is too frequently the case that individuals wait for years to take advantage of the effective mental health treatments targeting traumatic experiences.
The report comes two days after Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC accused the government of failing to offer enough help for veterans with mental trauma caused by their combat experiences.
And contrary to the old dogma that the brain is genetically fixed in form and function, he says, the new understanding of "neuroplasticity" means the brain has the ability to change in significant ways throughout life, not only as a result of experiences but also by our own mental activity.
Or some underlying issue, partly explained by genetics and early childhood experiences, could be a precursor to both poor sleep and the mental disorders.