Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Captain W. Hayward, Royal Engineers, who was accidentally shot whilst serving with the Search Light Section at Greylingstad on 17 February 1902, and was later Mentioned in Despatches

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (27672. Cpl. W. Hayward. R.E.) engraved naming; British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. W. Hayward.) good very fine (3) £160-£200

William Hayward was born in Marylebone, Middlesex, in 1871 and attested for the Royal Engineers in London on 4 October 1893. He served with the Search Light Section, Royal Engineers in South Africa during the Boer War from 9 February to 26 June 1900, and again from 15 February 1901 to 14 July 1902 (also entitled to the King’s South Africa Medal with both date clasps), and was severely injured by gun shot to the right thigh and left knee when the motor car he was driving under orders without a light at night was shot upon by a block-house at Greylingstad on 17 February 1902; the subsequent inquiry found that the injury was due to the block-house posts not being warned in time.

Recovering from his wounds, Hayward was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 104 of April 1912. Subsequently commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) on 18 December 1915, he saw further service during the Great War on the Western Front from 28 May 1916, and was both Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 7 July 1919) and was advanced Captain on 18 December 1918. He relinquished his commission on 1 October 1920.

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