William Henry Hayes
In 1911 he was a night soil drayman.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Henry Hayes was born in 1880 at Nottingham, he was the husband of Mary Elizabeth Willoughby born in 1883 she died on 9th February 1917 aged 34 yrs, they had 3 children, Albert Edward born 11th September 1907, and Mary Elizabeth born 10th October 1909 and Florence Amelia born 24th April 1918
In the 1911 census the family lived at 20 Haywood Street, Sneinton Nottingham William Henry Hayes 30 yrs is a night soil drayman, he is living with his wife Mary Elizabeth 28 yrs and their children, Albert Edward 3 yrs and Mary Elizabeth 1 year old.
His pension record card shows his 3 children Albert Edward born 15th Setember 1907, Mary Elizabeth born 10th October 1909 and Florence Amelia born 23rd April 1912. were awarded a pension of 28 shillings a week which commenced on 23rd December 1918 , the childrens guardian was Mrs E Hayes of 71 Brand Street, Meadow Lane, Nottingham.
Lance Corporal William Henry Hayes enlisted at Nottingham, he initially served with the service number 5070 in the Sherwood Foresters Regiment, he was serving with the 4th Special Reserve battalion, he was killed in action on 10th April 1918 having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
This was a Special Reserve Battalion.
Special Reserve
This was a form of part-time soldiering, in some ways similar to the Territorial Force. Men would enlist into the Special Reserve for 6 years and had to accept the possibility of being called up in the event of a general mobilisation and otherwise undertake all the same conditions as men of the Army Reserve. Their period as a Special Reservist started with six months full-time training (paid the same as a regular) and they had 3-4 weeks training per year thereafter. A man who had not served as a regular could extend his SR service by up to four years but could not serve beyond the age of 40. A former regular soldier who had completed his Army Reserve term could also re-enlist as a Special Reservist and serve up to the age of 42.
additional research and information Peter Gillings
Photo of William Henry Hayes
Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium