139579 William "Sailor" Hayes British Army Royal Engineers To be honest, all four of my grandparents have proved challenging as far as family research is concerned but, from the days when a polite letter and an SAE to The ministry of Defence prompted a personally typed reply, at least I have a chronological account of the military service of my maternal grandfather, 17123 Driver William Hayes - Royal Engineers.
In essence it is probably no more or less remarkable than many such records. He enlisted in Poole 20.1.1908, was transferred to Reserve 20.1.1910 and was mobilised 7.8.1914, serving until 22.12.15 in the Expeditionary Force France.From 23.12.1915 to 7.8.1919 he was a member of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, during which time, in 1916, he joined No 2 Train Transport Company. Along with many others, he was awarded the 1914 Star, the British war Medal and the Victory medal.
But, was he really serving with the 3rd Dorsetshire Regiment Militia upon attestation? ... the record contains no details of this previous service.
Where did he buy the beautiful postcard he sent to my mother during the war?
What exactly did he do in No 2 Train Transport Company?
Where and when was he buried alive? .... members of which other regiment dug him out? Perhaps a Scottish one judging by the photo! Incidentally, his pay was stopped when he went missing and, although reinstated upon his reappearance, not made up! My grandmother, with five small children to care for, was not impressed!
Did he at some point really serve with the Gurkhas? Certainly my mother and my Aunt could remember a friend called Gopal Singh visiting the house .... and what about 'The Turban Photo'?
Oh .. and the nickname 'Sailor'. Well, it seems that his early life was rather fraught, culminating in a bit of a set-to with his stepfather after which my grandfather ran away to sea, later jumping ship and changing his name.
To me, of course, he was just my grandfather. Someone who took me to the pictures, bought me a snow shaker and trusted me to play with the beautifully carved wooden figures in the cabinet.
I wish I had asked my grandfather the kind of questions the anwers to which would have solved the mysteries, but I was a child so I didn't. And would he have told me? He didn't even talk about it to my Nan and my Mum. Like so many other 'unremarkable men' he just got on with it.
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