Name
(Charles) John Hayes
2/08/1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
14368
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. AUBERT BRITISH CEMETERY
III. A. 28.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Barley Village Memorial, St Margaret's Church Memorial, Barley, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
We believe this is the J. Hayes on the Barley War Memorial
John HAYES was born in Barley, Hertfordshire, on 2nd August 1895, son of Jemima Hayes.
We believe he was registered at birth as Ernest Charles Hayes.
1901 census records John as Charles Hayes aged 5, living with his widower Grandfather James Hayes a Shepherd, his Uncle Arthur Hayes (39), elder sister Florence Hayes (11) and twin sister Nancy Hayes (5), his Aunt Ame Bennett (nee Hayes) her husband George Bennett, and his cousin Edmund Bennett (2), are all living in Smith’s End, Barley, Herts. His mother Jemima Hayes, a Dressmaker and twins Harry and Lizzie, 3 months, are living nine doors down in Smith’s End, Barley, Herts.
His mother Jemima Hayes married Harry Baker in late 1901, the marriage was registered in Royston, Herts.
1911 Census records John as Ernest Charles Baker aged 15, working as a Farm Labourer, living with his mother Jemima, stepfather Harry Baker, twin sister Nancy Baker (15), sister Lizzie May Baker (10), brother Harry George Baker (10) (twins), half-sister Gertrude Baker (8) and half-brother William Baker, still in Smith’s End, Barley, Herts.
It is not known when or why he changed his name to John Hayes.
Wartime Service
We believe he enlisted as John Hayes in September 1914, at Royston, Herts, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment and issued with the service No. 14368. On completion of his training, he was sent to the Western Front arriving on 27th April 1915, later promoted to Lance Corporal.
He was wounded in action on 4th September 1918, and died of his wounds on 12th September 1918, aged 23. He is buried in St Aubert British Cemetery, France. Grave Ref; III. A. 8.
At the time of his death, he was serving with “D” Company, 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment.
Additional Information
His effects of £34-03s-10d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £23-10s-00d, went to his mother Jemima Baker, of Smith’s End, Barley, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Paul Johnson, Adrian Pitts, Jonty Wild
