Harry Samuel Hayes

He signed on for 4 years, and on 15th May 1902 joined D Company, 2nd Battalion, the 1st Nottinghamshire (Robin Hood) Volunteer Rifle Corps. He re-enlisted in 1906. He served with them until 31st March 1908 when the Volunteer Forces were disbanded. He joined the new Territorial Force on 7th May 1908 signing on for two years as a corporal, joining No.4 (Sherwood Foresters Brigade) Company, North Midland Divisional Train. He re-enlisted for a further year in 1910,1911,1912,1913 and then 1914. He attended camp at Welbeck (1908), Scarborough (1909), Hindlow (1910, by which time he was a Lance Sergeant), Scarborough (1911), Abermaide (1912), Carnarvon (1913) and Hunmanby (1914). He was promoted Wheeler Sergeant on 3rd August 1913 and Wheeler Staff Sergeant on 1st June 1914. He was embodied on 5th August 1914 and on 28th February 1915 he embarked on the SS Blackwell at Southampton and sailed to Le Havre. On 12 May 1915 the Division was retitled as the 46th (North Midland) Division, and the Train became the 46th Divisional Train It is likely that in addition to the above, he re-engaged in 1915 and then in 1916, the Military Service Act stopped him leaving the services, on completion of his service, whilst the war was on. He transferred to H.T Base Depot, Le Havre on 23rd April 1916 and returned to the UK, reporting to the Administration Centre in Nottingham on 25th April 1916. He re-enlisted four years or the duration of the war on 6th May 1916 On re-enlistment, he joined 622 (H.T) Company ASC which was part of the 1st Reserve (H.T) Depot based at Park Royal in London On 1st February 1918 he joined 1022 (H.T) Company ASC at Aberdeen and he was with this unit when he died. On 31st January 1919 he was admitted to the Cromerty Military Hospital in Aberdeen complaining of chest pains. He was treated at the hospital until he died at 11.45am on 3rd February 1919. The cause of death being shown as a) Influenza b) catarrhal pneumonia c) heart failure. His body was returned to Nottingham for burial. He was interred at Nottingham General Cemetery (grave ref 3432), CWGC headstone alongside family headstone.

Nottingham Post notice (abridged) 4 February 1919: 'HAYES, on February 3rd 1918 at Cromerty Military Hospital, Scotland, of pneumonia. Staff Sergeant Hayes, age 33, husband of Florrie Hayes of 13 Shipstone Street,Basford and eldest son of Annie and Henry Hayes. Seventeen years with Sherwood Foresters and ASC. Funeral General Cemetery.' Nottingham Journal and Express Tuesday 11th February 1919 :- Military Funeral The funeral of Staff Sgt Harry S Hayes R.A.S.C (Horse transport) took place yesterday afternoon at the General Cemetery. The coffin was carried to the grave on a gun carriage and a firing party and bugler of the 32nd West Yorks came over from Clipstone to fire the customary volley and sound the last post. There were many beautiful wreaths, the officiating minister was the Rev F J Sides of St Stephens. Staff Sgt Hayes was the son of Mr and Mrs H Hayes of 13 Shipstone Street, Hyson Green. He joined up with his four brothers early in the war and had been about 3 years in France, one brother was recently severely wounded, one was killed in the war and he himself died after a few days illness of pneumonia at Cromarty Military Hospital, Scotland and was brought to his own city for internment. Staff Sgt Hayes was an old Robin Hood man, and was well known in the local scout movement having been a scout master in Nottingham for several years. he was 33 years of age and leaves a widow to mourn his loss. His brother, 2006 Lance Corporal Ernest Hayes, 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, died 3rd March 1915 and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery Plot III Row C Grave 76.