Pte
William Leslie Hayes
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1894 |
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Place of birth: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Jeweller |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 3790 |
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Enlistment date: 09/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 49th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Gasometer, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 29 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Leslie Hayes, a former jeweller, was born in 1894 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. On 9 August 1915 he enlisted at Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Hayes served as a private in the 49th Bn. Australian Infantry, part of the 13th Australian Brigade, of the 4th Australian Division.
The 49th Bn. Australian Infantry moved into the line near Broodseinde in the night between the 9-10 October 1917. The next night they were moved further back into close support. The Battalion was relieved in the night between 13-14 October 1917.
William Leslie Hayes, aged 23, was killed in action on October 12, 1917. The dug-out where he sought cover was hit by a shell and collapsed. Four men lost their lives and Private Hayes was amongst them. This information was related by Eric Graham Waltisbuhl in March 1918 to the Australian Red Cross staff, who were searching for missing Australian soldiers. Waltisbuhl stated that he occupied the same dug-out and was talking to one of the occupants when the shell hit. In contrast to the other occupants, he survived unscathed. The four were initially buried near the Gasometer along the Zonnebeke-Broodseinde road. Their graves were marked with rifles stuck into the ground, but the remains were not recovered or identified after the war. William Leslie Hayes has no known grave and is remembered on panel 29B of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The 49th Bn. Australian Infantry moved into the line near Broodseinde in the night between the 9-10 October 1917. The next night they were moved further back into close support. The Battalion was relieved in the night between 13-14 October 1917.
William Leslie Hayes, aged 23, was killed in action on October 12, 1917. The dug-out where he sought cover was hit by a shell and collapsed. Four men lost their lives and Private Hayes was amongst them. This information was related by Eric Graham Waltisbuhl in March 1918 to the Australian Red Cross staff, who were searching for missing Australian soldiers. Waltisbuhl stated that he occupied the same dug-out and was talking to one of the occupants when the shell hit. In contrast to the other occupants, he survived unscathed. The four were initially buried near the Gasometer along the Zonnebeke-Broodseinde road. Their graves were marked with rifles stuck into the ground, but the remains were not recovered or identified after the war. William Leslie Hayes has no known grave and is remembered on panel 29B of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 3
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49th Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/66). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
More information 4
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=5b09bd9a-7f88-45f9-988c-53bd90b70e14 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3790 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=132051 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7465126 |