HAYES, George Thomas

George Hayes was the son of Mary and George Hayes of Bilston Street, Sedgley, and worked as a tailor in 1911. He volunteered for the South Staffordshire Territorials and joined the 1/6th Battalion. They were in the 46th (North Midlands) Division and were sent to the Western Front in March 1915. They experienced front line trenches in a quiet sector of Artois before going to the second phase of the Battle of Loos. It was a fearful first experience of battle. On the 13th October at 2 p.m. they left their trenches to attack the Hohenzollern Redoubt over flat and open terrain. A few reached the enemy wire but the losses were extremely high. After re-training they went to the Somme in early 1916 and were called upon for the first day of the battle on the 1st July. They were part of a diversionary attack on the extreme northern flank of the line at Gommecourt Wood and the outcome was similar to 1915. In the face of strong German defences and a long advance over open ground losses were very high and included Lance Corporal George Hayes who was killed in action. He was 25 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval and Sedgley Memorials.