William Henry Hayward

Gunner William Henry Hayward – Royal Garrison Artillery

Early Life

William Henry Hayward was born in 1884, the eldest child of William Hayward and Margaret Conolly.

1891 Census

By the time of the 1891 Census, the family was living at 1 Frog Court, Swansea. William senior, then 29, was working as a labourer, while his wife Margaret, aged 27 and originally from Wolverhampton, managed their young household. Their two children were William Henry, aged 7, who was already attending school, and his younger sister Florence, aged 4.

1901 Census

Ten years later, in the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 1 Clarence Court. William senior, now 39, was employed as a mason, while Margaret, aged 34, was occupied at home. The household included five children: William Henry, 19, employed as a Trimmer Coal Help; Florence, 14; Alfred, 8; James, 5; and Maggie, just 2 years old.

Goal Records

In 1906, William married Kathleen Osborne, beginning a new chapter of his life. However, three years later, he was sentenced to 14 days’ hard labour after being found guilty of assault, as recorded in the Swansea Prison Records.

Military Service

At the outbreak of the First World War, William enlisted as a Reservist and was posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery, 11^th Fife Command. He went on to serve in France for nearly four years, enduring the harsh realities of life on the Western Front.

Death and Burial

After surviving the war itself, William’s health began to fail. He contracted nephritis and uraemia, both serious kidney-related illnesses that were often linked to the conditions endured in service. On 16^th February 1919, just a few months after the Armistice, William died at the age of 35.

He was buried at Danygraig Cemetery, Swansea. However, his funeral was conducted without military honours, something that was rare for a man who had served almost four years at the Front. This caused great upset to his widow, Kathleen, who believed that her husband’s service should have been properly recognised.

South Wales Daily Post 

The South Wales Daily Post reported on the situation, publishing details of Mrs. Hayward’s formal complaint. She demanded an explanation as to why her husband’s funeral had not been conducted with the ceremonial respect given to many other veterans. This episode highlights the inconsistencies of the time: while some families saw their loved ones laid to rest with full military honours, others, like the Haywards, felt forgotten and overlooked.

The omission of honours at William’s funeral stands in sharp contrast to the recognition afforded to many of his comrades, and it underscores the challenges that bereaved families faced in ensuring their loved ones’ sacrifices were properly acknowledged.

Legacy

Though his grave lacked the recognition afforded to many others, William Henry Hayward’s service with the Royal Garrison Artillery speaks to the endurance and sacrifice of men who fought through the war, only to die in its aftermath.

His widow’s determined complaint serves as a reminder that the struggle for dignity and recognition did not end with the Armistice. For many families, the fight continued long after the guns had fallen silent, ensuring that their loved ones were remembered not simply as casualties, but as men who had given years of their lives in service.