Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

A superb Second War 1944 ‘North-West Europe’ M.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant G. R. Hayward, Queen’s Royal Regiment, who led his men in a forward patrol against the enemy in Holland, 11 October: his patrol routed the enemy and despite being severely wounded by gunshot to the head, he personally rushed forward to seize the retiring enemy’s last man and take him prisoner
Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6089830 A. Cpl. G. R. Hayward. Queen’s R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (6089830 Cpl. G. R. Hayward MM. Queens); together with the related miniature awards, the Africa Star with additional 8th Army clasp; and the recipient’s Dunkirk Medal 1940, with associated miniature, light pitting to MM, otherwise good very fine or better

Four: Sergeant R. C. Hayward, Military Mounted Police, late Royal Horse Artillery
1914 Star, with clasp (702 L.Cpl. R. C. Hayward. M.M.P.); British War and Victory Medals (702 T.Sjt. R. C. Hayward. M.M.P.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (7681034 Cpl. R. C. Hayward. M.M.P.) mounted as worn, good very fine (lot) £1800-2200

M.M. London Gazette 1 March 1945.
The Recommendation states: ‘At Engelenstede on the night of 10th-11th October 1944, this N.C.O. was in command of an outpost in front of the battalion F.D.Es. In the early hours of the morning an enemy patrol of about twenty men passed behind this outpost, and moved towards our lines. Corporal Hayward decided to follow with his section, and stalked the patrol as far as two houses, which he found had been occupied by the enemy. By moving round to one side of the houses he and his section were able to get within very short distance of the patrol which he decided to attack immediately.
With complete disregard for his life he led his men in the assault, and in doing so was wounded in the thigh. In spite of this he continued to lead and urge his men on with a fine example of courage, killing four or five of them before the enemy decided to withdraw.
Corporal Hayward was again wounded in the head, and was in very great pain, but as the patrol was retiring he rushed forward himself and seized the last man, dragging him back to his section as a prisoner.
This N.C.O’s outstanding courage and unflinching devotion to duty throughout the action was an example to all the men in his section, and resulted in an enemy patrol being severely mauled.’

Gordon Reginald Hayward was born in Greenwich, London, the son of Sergeant R. C. Hayward and his wife Ethel, and was educated at the Roan School, Greenwich. He ‘joined the Territorial Army in April 1939. He took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, served through the Middle East campaign from the battle of Alamein to the fall of Tunis, and, thoroughly won the proud title of one of “Monty’s Desert Rats.” He went to the Continent on the second day of the initial landings [7 June 1944], and after an advance into Holland was sent out in charge of a patrol. His party ran into a German patrol, and in the engagement which resulted in the rout of the enemy, he was severely wounded.’ (Newspaper cutting announcing the award of Hayward’s M.M. refers).

Sold together with the named Buckingham Palace enclosure for the M.M.; a copy of the Recommendation for the M.M.; the recipient’s Dunkirk Medal Certificate; and a group photograph of the W.O.s and Sergeants Mess, 2nd Battalion Queen’s Royal Regiment, 1946, these all glazed and framed; the recipient’s Soldier’s Release Book; various letters, photographs, including those of the recipient as a young boy, and membership cards; Queen’s Royal Regiment swagger stick; the recipient’s riband bars, cap badges, and cloth unit and rank insignia; various lapel badges including the King’s Badge for Loyal Service and Military Medallists League badge; and various other ephemera.


Reginald Charles Hayward was born in Plymouth, and attested for the Royal Horse Artillery at London on 11 August 1902. Transferring to the Military Mounted Police, he served with them throughout the Great War, and was advanced Sergeant. Awarded his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal after the War, he was discharged on 10 August 1923, after 21 years’ service.

Sold together with a portrait of the recipient, glazed and framed; the recipient’s Certificate of Discharge, together with various letters of reference; a tea set encompassing tea pot, sugar bowl, and milk jug, all on a tray inscribed ‘Presented to Sergt. R. Hayward from the W.O. and Sergts. Military Police B.A.O.R.’; a glazed and framed group photograph, Cairo, 1911; and various photographs and other ephemera.