Hayes, Alfred, 77, Police Constable.

Early Life.

Alfred Hayes was born on the 2nd October 1886 in St Pancras and Baptised on the 19th December 1886 at Holy Trinity, Marylebone Road, Westminster.

His father, John Hayes, married his mother Ann Davies, a widow, in the last quarter of 1883 at Swansea. She had previously been married to a Thomas Anderson and had two daughters with him, Blanch and Annie. Thomas died on the 8th January 1883.

John and Ann had five children starting with Annie May who was born in 1883 in Islington, Seymour who was born on 6th January 1884 at St Pancras, Harriet who was born on 26th September 1885 at St Pancras, then came Alfred and finally Rosalie who was born on 11th November 1890 at Friern Barnet.

In the 1891 census the family were living at Woodward Villas, Cromwell Road, Friern Barnet, Middlesex and John was employed as a Carman.

Sadly, Ann Hayes died in 1896 aged only 48.

During the 1901 census, John, now a widower, was living at 2, Haselmere, Friern Barnet with the three youngest children, he is now employed as a Carrier and Alfred as a Fishmonger’s Boy.

In 1902 John got re-married at Islington to Sarah Jane Custance and they had two children, Elizabeth who was born on the 13th May 1903 at Friern Barnet and John who was born in 1905 at Friern Barnet.

By the 1911 census John and Elizabeth and their 2 children are the only members of the family living at 3, Holly Park Road, New Southgate as the rest of the family have left home. Alfred had joined the Army.

Early Army Service.

His Army Service record has survived but is part of the burnt collection, so parts are missing, and other parts are difficult to read. However, we know he was Attested on the 1st May 1906 at Mill Hill as Private 11171 In the Middlesex Regiment, signing up for short service with 9 years in the Colours and 3 in the Reserve.

The following was recorded: He stated he was born in London; he was British and
aged 19 years 1 month. He had been living at home, he was a labourer, he was not an apprentice, he was not married and have never been sentenced to prison. He said he was currently in the Militia and serving with the 5th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.

He was medically examined when he enlisted, and the following details were recorded:
Height: 5 feet 7 ¾ inches, Weight: 116 lbs, Chest: 35 inches, Expansion 2 ½ inches, After 6 months he was examined again:
Height: 5 feet 8 ½ inches, Weight: 123 lbs, Chest: 36 inches, Expansion 2 ½ inches, Complexion: Fresh, Eyes: Blue, Hair: Brown.

He gave his Religion as the Church of England and the following distinguishing marks were noted: Mole left hip, 2 moles right cheek, 2 moles under right eye.
He gave details of his next of kin as his father John of Haselmere Cottages, Friern Barnet and his younger brother John.

On the 4th August 1906 he was posted to the 4th Battalion in Londonderry and six days later admitted to the Magilligan Camp Hospital for 5 days with Synovitis of his left knee (inflamed lining).

On the 25th October 1906 he received a 3rd Class Certificate of Education. On the 13th February 1908 he was posted to Tidworth Camp, Wiltshire and on the 16th September 1908, he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion.

On the 10th August 1909 he qualified in cold shoeing (cold shaping) whilst at Bulford Camp, Wiltshire. On the 28th September 1909 he was posted to Aldershot and whilst there on the 9th December 1909 he received a Certificate of Proficiency as a driver in transport duties.

On the 31st January 1911 he qualified in M.I. (unknown meaning) Duties at Longmore Camp, East Liss, Hampshire. At the time of the census he was still there and recorded as Alfred Hayes, Private, 4th Middlesex Regiment a Shoeing Smith. On the 27th January 1912 he qualified as a Shoeing Smith in accordance with Paragraph 1204 of the Kings Regulations.

On the 24th June 1912 he was transferred to the Reserve with his consent before the expiration of his Army Service. Authority was given in a War Office letter dated 29th April 1912.

Police Service.

His Police Service record has not survived but from other sources we know he was attested on the 4th August 1913 as Police Constable 77. There are no further records of his service until General Order 118 of 21st July 1915. This is a list of 96 officers which included the Chief Constable, 43 Constables who were Army reservists who were recalled and 50 Constables and 2 Sergeants who volunteered for military service. Alfred is shown as PC 77 Hayes A. of D Division recalled to 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on 4th August 1914.

Army Service During The War.
He was mobilised at Mill Hill on the 5th August 1914 and 25 days later posted to the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. On the 3rd September 1914 he embarked aboard ship for France and 2 days later joined his Battalion in the Field.

On the 25th January 1916 he was Appointed as an unpaid Lance Corporal and 6 months later on the 16th July he was Appointed as a paid Lance Corporal. He was on leave from the 13th to the 23rd January 1917 and then a month later on the 24th April he was promoted to Corporal.

He was on leave between the 19th January and the 2nd February 1918 and on the 26th March 1918, he was promoted to Sergeant. He then had two days leave from the 22nd August 1918 in Paris followed by 14 days leave in the UK from the 1st December 1918.

Then on 26th January 1919 he was transferred to the Army Reserve on demobilisation at Hounslow. He gave his address as 1, Bethel Cottages, Alexander Road, New Southgate. His Discharge Form shows he received two Good Conduct badges and his Conduct and Character were recorded as, “Exemplary. No offences during the whole of his service”.

His date of demobilisation would have been prior to his transfer to the Army Reserve and, like every other soldier, he would have been given 28 days leave before that. From studying the surviving Army and Police Service Records of other “Police Soldiers” they clearly contacted the Chief Constable to advise that they were free to return and during their leave they would have been medically examined to determine whether they were fit to return to Police duties. Also, the date of demobilisation immediately precedes the date of their re-appointment to the Police.

Re-joining The Police.

General Order 15 of 14th January 1919 announced that 9 Police Soldiers having been released from H.M. Army were to be re-appointed to the Force, with effect from the dates shown. Alfred was listed as PC 77 Hayes A. to be posted back to D Division at Hemel Hempstead from the 13th January 1919 on £2/8/0 per week.
Each officer had to be formally re-attested and the Superintendents concerned had to inform the Chief Constable the date and place of attestation and before whom taken.

Alfred was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and British War medals. On a receipt for his 1914 Star dated 4th August 1919 he gave his address as 7, Herbert Street, Hemel Hempstead.

General Order 182 of 20th August 1919 informed Alfred that he would receive an increased rate of pay from £4/0/0 to £4/2/0 per week from the 5th August 1919.

The Electoral Roll of 1920 lists Alfred as lodging at 7, Herbert Street, Hemel Hempstead but by 1921 he had moved to 34, Herbert Street, Hemel Hempstead.

On the 6th February 1921 Alfred married Kate Mead at Hemel Hempstead. They were to have 3 children. Firstly, Leslie Ernest born in 1922, then George Henry born in 1924 and lastly Hilda Rose born in 1927, all were born in Tring.

General Order 109 of the 7th July 1921 announced that Alfred was being transferred from D Division at Hemel Hempstead to D Division at Tring, to occupy house vacated by Acting Police Sergeant 279 Prior. No date was given for his move.

General Order 138 of 12th August 1921 and General Order 109 of 18th August 1922 informed Alfred that he would be going to receive an increased rate of pay from £4/4/0 to £4/6/0 per week from 5th August 1921 and from £4/6/0 to £4/8/0 per week from 5th August 1922 respectively.

The 1922 Electoral Roll lists Alfred as living in Miswell Lane, Tring.

Retirement On Medical Grounds.

General Order 34 of 19th February 1923 announced:
“Retirement Physically Unfit
The undermentioned Police Constable has been certified medically unfit for further Police Service by the Constabulary Staff Surgeon:
PC 77 Hayes A. D Division Service 9 years 222 days.
Constable Hayes will be paid up to and including 14th March 1923 and his name struck off the strength of the establishment of the Force on that date”.

General Order 75 of 21st April 1923 informed Alfred of from when and the amount of pension he would receive. For 9 years’ service he would receive £76/5/4 per annum starting from the 15th March 1923 and his Police Pension was less any amount received from the Military Authorities.

After The Police.

The Electoral Roll of 1930 records Alfred and Kate Hayes living at Miswell Cottages, Miswell Lane, Tring, whilst the 1939 Register shows them at 71 Miswell Lane, Tring with Alfred employed as a labourer.

Alfred Hayes died in 1940 at Tring.