HAYES, Alfred George

Alfred Hayes was the son of Mr G. and Mrs Clara Hayes of 60 Lawnswood Road, Wordsley. He volunteered for the South Staffords and joined the 2nd Battalion. In 1916 they took part in the middle phase of the Battle of the Somme and the long struggle for Delville Wood and High Wood. By the end of July half of the battalion were casualties and the Staffords did not return to the front line until January 1917. They were then involved in a major attack on the 17th February over the high ground near the village of Miraumont. The attack started at 5.45 a.m. but a rapid thaw wrecked any hope of a quick advance. Casualties were heavy and included Private Alfred Hayes who was killed in action. He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval and Wordsley Memorials. His older brother John was killed in action in September 1914.