HAYES, Aaron Herbert
| Service Number: | 123 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia, 3 June 1892 |
| Home Town: | Islington, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman |
| Died: | Bronchial Pneumonia, 4th Stationary Hospital BEF, France, 2 August 1917, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery Plot IV, Row D, Grave. 4 Rev. C.H.R. Stack officiated Headstone inscription reads: Found you at last always remembered with respect by your loving son Les, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Wickham "Citizens of Wickham" Volunteers Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 123, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 123, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 123, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 29 Jul 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 123, 35th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Aaron Herbert Hayes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Non of Arron H. Hayes and Ruth Hayes of Wallsend, NSW
Husband of Emily Elizabeth Hart formerly Hayes of Chen Chin, Islington, NSW. Father of Leslie Herbert Hayes
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Aaron Herbert (‘Herb’) HAYES (Serial Number 123) was born at Wallsend NSW on 3rd June 1892. In April 1913 he joined the NSW Government Railways at the Hamilton locomotive depot as a cleaner (first step on the career path of an engineman). He was promoted to fireman in August 1913. On 19th December 1914 he married Emily Tollis at Wickham. In January 1916 he enlisted in the AIF in Newcastle.
He was allotted to the 35th Battalion (‘Newcastle’s Own’). He embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Benalla’ in May 1915, landed in England in July, and was sent to France in December. He reported sick (with ‘defective vision’) in June 1917 and spent a week in hospital. He returned to his unit for a week but was sent back to hospital with ‘pyrexia of unknown origin’ for another week. He returned to duty on 3rd July.
He was ‘wounded in action’ on 29th July 1917.
His Commanding Officer reported: ‘On the night of 28/29 July at 11 o’clock the abovenamed soldier was engaged digging out and rendering first aid to [3 men] who had been buried during bombardment of support trench. At or about midnight he was reported missing and search was made for him without avail. About 4.30am another search was made and he was found almost completely buried in an isolated position of the trench. He was immediately dug out and taken to dressing station. On being dug out he complained of stiffness only.’
He was diagnosed with ‘shell shock’ and sent to hospital at Arques. He died there on 2nd August 1917 of bronchial pneumonia. He was buried in Longueness St Omer Souvenir Cemetery.
War pensions were granted to his widow and son, Leslie Herbert.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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