Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine and rare Great War ‘Ledeghem, October 1918’ operations D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant C. Hayes, 1st/2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (265302 Sjt. C. Hayes, 1/2 Mon: R.); 1914 Star, with slide-on clasp (1774 Pte. C. Hayes. 1/2 Mon: R.); British War and Victory Medals (1774 Sjt. C. Hayes. Monmouth. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (265302 Sjt. C. Hayes. 1/2 Mon: R.) edge bruising, contact marks and polished, thus good fine or better and a unique combination to the Regiment (5) £1,600-£2,000

Provenance: The Collection of Medals to the Monmouthshire Regiment formed by Lt. Col. P. A. Blagojevic, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2006.

The only D.C.M., M.S.M. combination to the Monmouthshires for the Great War.

D.C.M. London Gazette 11 March 1920:
‘For marked gallantry and devotion to duty during continuous service with the Battalion, particularly during the operations east of Ledeghem on 14 October 1918. He was in charge of two sections detailed to advance with the leading wave of infantry and secure the crossing of the Heulebeek by laying infantry foot-bridges. Under very heavy shell fire he succeeded in getting to his objective.’

M.S.M. London Gazette 17 June 1918:
‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the forces in France during the present war.’

Clifford Hayes, a native of Pontnewynydd, was a pre-war Territorial who was called up on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 and embarked for France that November, where, no doubt, he witnessed incidents from the famous “Christmas Truce”. Nor was he the only member of his family to answer the call for King and Country, The Free Press of Monmouthshire reporting that:
‘Mr. John Hayes, late Master Tailor, 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, who resides at 24 Machine Meadow, Pontnewynydd, has five sons serving their King and Country ... four in the Territorials and one (Ivor) in the New Army (4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers). Two of their sons, Francis John Hayes and Herbert Hayes, served through the South African War in the 2nd Battalion of the famous 24th (South Wales Borderers) Regiment. Francis John holds the Queen’s and King’s Medals for the South African campaign. Herbert is still serving his old regiment at the depot in Brecon [Ivor was subsequently killed in action in Gallipoli on 7 August 1915].’

Then in June 1918 The Free Press of Monmouthshire reported that Hayes’ parents had received a copy of their son Clifford’s G.O.C., 29th Division Commendation Certificate:
‘I have read with much pleasure the reports of your regimental commander regarding your gallant conduct during the past three years and at Cambrai: I have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the 29th Division.’

And in the following month another feature reported on the award of his Meritorious Service Medal:
‘On the recommendation of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Evans, commanding the Monmouthshire Regiment, Sergeant Clifford Hayes has been awarded the M.S.M., and was decorated with the ribbon by the General before his comrades in France on 3 July 1918, when his record was read out: He has rendered most valuable service with the Battalion in France since 5 November 1914. He has always undertaken difficult and dangerous tasks with cheerfulness under heavy shell fire, which has served as a fine example to the men working under him. He set an excellent example of coolness and courageous conduct during the operations near Cambrai 20 November to 6 December 1917.’

As cited above, it was following further gallantry enacted in the operations at Ledeghem in October 1918, that Hayes was awarded his D.C.M. He had, however, one final duty to perform prior to being demobilised:
‘On 19 July, a Colour Party consisting of Lieutenant H. T. Nelmes, M.C., Lieutenant H. L. I. Hughes, Sergeant W. Williams, D.C.M., M.M., and Sergeant C. Hayes, D.C.M., representing the Battalion, marched in the Great Peace Demonstration in London’ (Battalion history refers).