William Hay

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Wed, 26/03/2014 - 15:04

First Name:

William

Last Name:

Hay

Date of Birth:

Thursday, February 18, 1875

Mother's Name:

Harriett Hay (nee McLaughlin)

Father's Name:

William Hay (Senior)

Date Enlisted:

Friday, May 5, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

13th Battalion

Company:

20th Reinforcements

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, January 27, 1940

Place of Death:

Coledale

Details:

William Hay was born in Perth, Scotland on 18 February c.1875 to William Hay (snr) and Harriett McLaughlin (nee). William was living at Coledale when he enlisted at Helensburgh on 5 May, 1916 at the age of 40; he joined the 13th Infantry Battalion and embarked on HMAT Euripides on 9 September 1916.

He was married to Christina Davidson (nee) and together, they had two children: Peter and Richard. Like many other men at the time, he was working as a labourer.

William was reported killed in action but he was taken as a POW (Prisoner of War) to Skalmiershutz in Germany (former German territory) in May 1918. At the time, he wrote,

“I am well. I was badly wounded and taken prisoner on 4/5/18. I was very ill for a week or two but getting on alright now. Will let you know all next time I write.”

He was captured on 4 August, 1918 according to the National Australian Archive records. He arrived in England in December and was subsequently repatriated to Australia.

After returning to Australia in April 1919, he was discharged on 3 June 1919.

William Hay died in Coledale on 27 January, 1940.

Sources:

AWM, Embarkation Rolls – William Hay, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 2013, http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/nominal_rolls/first_world_war_embarkation/person/R1926667/ viewed 4 December 2013.

Australian Red Cross Society, Wounded and Missing: 6263 Private William Hay, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 2013 http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1039113--1-.PDF, viewed 4 December 2013.