Cecil George HAYES
Per his military service record (regimental no. 2465), Cecil George Hayes was born at Bathurst, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 18 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 4 inches tall, weight 9 stone 6 inches, with a dark complexion, grey eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had 3 months military service in the Senior Cadets. He completed his medical on the 5th November 1915 at Katoomba, and was attested at Katoomba by Lieutenant F. Middenway on the same day.
‘Cecil Hayes’ was named in The Blue Mountain Echo as one of the recruits who joined the Coo-ees at Katoomba.[2] He was reported in The Blue Mountain Echo as ‘proudly bearing aloft the Katoomba flag’ when the Coo-ees marched out of Katoomba.[3]
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Menangle Park Camp as reinforcement for the 6th Light Horse Regiment.
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Main Street, Katoomba, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, William Hayes, at the same address.
On 26th April 1916 Trooper Hayes departed Sydney on the HMAT Port Macquarie A39 with the 17th reinforcements for the 6th Light Horse Regiment (along with fellow Coo-ee Ronald Hector Perkins).
After arriving at Suez in Egypt, on 21st June 1916 Trooper Hayes was taken on strength with the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment at Te-el-Kebir.
On 15th July 1916 he was taken on strength of the 12th Company of the Imperial Camel Corps.
On 11th November 1916 Trooper Hayes was transferred to the 3rd ANZAC Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps.
On 17th December 1916 Trooper Hayes was admitted to the New Zealand Field Ambulance sick with influenza. He was discharged and returned to his unit on 19th December 1916.
On 2nd January 1917 Trooper Hayes was charged with Neglect of Duty on 30th December 1916 whilst on line piquet. He was awarded 14 days field punishment no. 2.
On 8th January 1917 Trooper Hayes was charged with delay in obeying an order by an NCO. He was awarded 7 days field punishment no. 2.
On 5th July 1917 Trooper Hayes was admitted sick to hospital in Palestine. On 13th July 1917 he was admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at El Arish with septic sores. On 14th July 1917 he was transferred to the 36th Stationary Hospital at Mahemdia, Egypt. He was discharged to ICC details at Australian Base Depot Company at Abbassia from hospital on 15th August 1917.
On 10th September 1917 he rejoined his Battalion in Palestine.
On 23rd February 1918 Trooper Hayes joined the Signal Training Unit at Moascar.
He wrote from Palestine in a letter home published in The Blue Mountain Echo on 22nd March 1918 “This life suits me down to the boots, and in spite of the hard work and poor tucker I’m packing on weight daily. My work as signaller is risky, but there are risks in anything nowadays, and whilst I’ve had three close calls I’m still as fit as every, I think a fellow’s fate is booked from the cradle, and nothing will change it. I have met some fine men in the Army, and like them greatly, but, at all times, I’m thinking of my old mate, [fellow Coo-e] Reg Duff, in France, and wondering if he is still going strong… I am into this till the end, dad, so buck up and I’ll pull through”.[4]
He rejoined his Battalion on 29th June 1918.
On 1st July 1918 Trooper Hays was transferred to the 15th Light Horse Regiment.
On 13th March 1919 Trooper Hayes was charged with drunkenness at Beirut on 8th March 1919. He was awarded 7 days field punishment no. 2 and fined 10 days pay.
On 25th May 1919 Trooper Hayes was charged with a number of offences including overstaying his leave from 1700 till 1830 on 24th May 1919. He was awarded 28 days field punishment no. 2.
On 5th July 1919 Trooper Hayes was charged with a number of offences including being absent from 1600 parade on 3rd July 1919, breaking camp, and causing a disturbance in town. He was awarded 28 days field punishment no. 2, and fined 30 days pay.
While still undergoing this punishment, on 24th July 1919 Trooper Hayes commenced his return to Australia aboard the H.T. Dongala.
He arrived in Australia on 25th August 1919, and was discharged termination of period of enlistment on 21st October 1919.
[1] NAA: B2455, HAYES C G 2465
[2] ‘March o’er the Mountains’, The Blue Mountain Echo, 12 November 1915, pp. 2-3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108042142
[3] ‘March o’er the Mountains’, The Blue Mountain Echo, 12 November 1915, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108042142
[4] ‘Friday, March 22, 1918. Signaller Cecil Hayes’, The Blue Mountain Echo, p. 2. Retrieved March 7, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108248103
1915 Coo-ee March 