Ernest V (Victor) Hayward was born at Hunslet in Yorkshire in 1894. He was baptised at Wesleyan Non Conformist Chapel, Leeds while the family was living at 16 Stoke Street, Leeds. His father, Thomas Price Hayward, was a cooper and barrel maker and his mother was Miriam Jane nee Phillips. They had married in 1891 and had 7 children of whom 5 survived childhood – Allan, Ernest, Elsie, Olive and Hilda. The three youngest were born in Hay on Wye, but by 1901 the family were living at 20 Welsh Walls, Oswestry. Both parents were originally from Welshpool. It is assumed that father, Thomas, moved for work as a self-employed cooper. They would later move to Chippenham and later still to Burton on Trent. The succession of towns –Leeds-Hay-(Oswestry)-(Chippenham)- Burton, beer/cider centres, suggests he worked in the brewing industry making barrels. Ernest was employed by Messrs. Roger and Sons, coachbuilders, Oswestry to whom he had been apprenticed as a coach painter. He was a church goer, playing organ at Nant Wesleyan Chapel and was a Sunday school teacher at the English Wesleyan Sunday School, Oswestry.

Ernest volunteered in the first months of the war enlisting at Oswestry in 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and went over to France on 19 December 1915 – probably as a draft to 7 Bn KSLI – joining them for Christmas at Ypres. He was wounded twice and, from his obituary, ‘had many narrow escapes’. By 1917 the battalion had moved to the Arras sector and was in the fighting during the Arras Offensive. At the end of May 1917 they were in billets at Villers sur Simon. On 1 June they went back into the support line at Arras. Ernest was KIA on 2 June 1917. On that day, the KSLI trenches were heavily shelled by 8 inch guns. There was also a bombing raid by enemy aircraft. At the time of his death he was one of a party of six when a bomb exploded in their midst. He was killed instantaneously.  The chaplain of his battalion wrote to his parents ‘Whilst in the support we were shelled one morning and unfortunately some shells hit the trench. Six of our fellows were killed and amongst them was your son. He was instantly killed and we buried him in a military cemetery at Tilloy. A regimental cross is being placed over his grave. We are sorry at his death, as he was well known and much liked’. Casualties for the day were 6 ranks killed and 6 wounded. He, along with the 5 other Pals, are buried together at Tilloy British Cemetery. His headstone has the New Testament inscription – ‘If we suffer we shall also reign with him (2 Tim 2 v12)’ – chosen by his father. Ernest is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry and on Chippenham War Memorial and St Paul’s Church, Chippenham.

Acknowledgements. Chippenham War Memorials

References and Sources

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