William Gordon HAYES

HAYES, William Gordon

Service Number: 6952
Enlisted: 11 August 1915, Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Driver
Last Unit: 4th Field Artillery Brigade
Born: Benbambra, Victoria Australia, 1893
Home Town: Healesville, Yarra Ranges, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Victoria, Australia, July 1953, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Corryong and District Avenue of Honour Memorial
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World War 1 Service

11 Aug 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 6952, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria
18 Nov 1915: Involvement Driver, 6952, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: ''
18 Nov 1915: Embarked Driver, 6952, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne
19 Jul 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, From 4th Field Artillery Brigade
11 Aug 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 5th Field Artillery Brigade , From 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column
16 Dec 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, From 5th Field Artillery Brigade
9 May 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, From 4th Field Artillery Brigade
13 May 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, From 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column
23 Jul 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, Discharged at the 3rd Military District

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of James Hayes and Georgina Hayes of St. Leonards Road, Healesville, Victoria

Commenced return to Australia on 10 April 1919 aboard HT Medic disembarking on 31 May 1919

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Husband of Violet Hayes of Port Fairy, Victoria

Biography contributed by Stephen Learmonth

William Gordon Hayes was born in 1893 in Corryong, Victoria, to James Hayes and Georgina, nee Maddison. In 1900, James, along with W Heath, purchased the Heath Brothers saddlery business in Corryong. He would sell this business two years later and eventually purchase the Corryong Saw-Mill.

On 11th August 1915, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 22-year-old labourer living at St Leonards Rd, Healesville, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 6952 and placed in the 11 Battery of the 4th Field Artillery Brigade. William gave his next of kin as his father, James Hayes. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A18 Wiltshire at Melbourne, Victoria, on 18th November 1915.

During his enlistment period, he was also a member of the 2nd Division Ammunition Column and No. 15 Battery of the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, being transferred on 19th July 1917 and 11th August 1917, respectively. 

On 10th April 1919, he returned to Australia aboard HMAT A7 Medic, with the rank of Driver. He was discharged on 23rd July 1919, being awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service during the war.

Two of William’s brothers, Albert and Percy, also enlisted and served on the Western Front. 

William married Violet Marion Gentles in 1924. He passed away on the 4th July 1953 at Royal Park, Victoria.

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