Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 1802801

Reference: WO372/9

Title: Medal Index Card

Description: Medal index cards were created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.

UPP: GBM/MCI/1804954

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 7959927

Title: James Hayward

Description: In uniform - he served with 146H Battery RGA in France

Connected by: Diane58212

Source information

ID: 7962083

Title: Death Certificate

Description: Death Certificate for James Hayward

Connected by: Diane58212

Source information

ID: 7962739

Title: Birth Certificate

Description: This birth certificate is in the name of James Whitning, but the family name as shown in the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census returns is clearly shown as Whiting, not Whitning. Please see further comments below regarding change of surname from Whiting to Hayward.

Connected by: Diane58212

Additional: James Hayward was born James Whiting. His father, Harry Whiting was illegitimate and therefore took his mother's surname of Whiting. About 3 years after Harry was born his mother married John Hayward and had several more "Hayward" children. Harry grew up the eldest child of the large Hayward family. Between 1902 when the youngest of James' siblings was born, and the 1911 census, the family moved from the small village of Great Cheverell, Nr. Devizes, Wiltshire to Netheravon a larger village on Salisbury Plain. Some of Harry Whiting's Hayward half brothers had already moved to Netheravon taking up work away from agriculture and into the building trade as many military establishments were being built on Salisbury Plan at that time. At this time the Whiting family assumed the name of Hayward. See the Declaration document further on in this history.

Source information

ID: 7962746

Title: Marriage Certificate

Description: Marriage Certificate - James Hayward and May Maggs 6 March 1915.

Connected by: Diane58212

Additional: James and May were married until May died on 10 February 1962. At the end of 1962 James married May's unmarried sister Rose. James and Rose were married until James died on 20 February 1965.

Source information

ID: 7962761

Title: Certificate of Identity

Description: Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity for Soldier not remaining with the Colours.

Connected by: Diane58212

Additional: This document confirms James' rank of Corporal, his regimental number of 75200 and that he was in 146 H Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. It was issued at No. 2 Dispersal Unit, Fovant, Wiltshire.

Source information

ID: 7962777

Title: Certificate

Description: Certificate of Transfer to Reserve on Demobilization (but see comments below about date James enlisted.

Connected by: Diane58212

Additional: Although this is a Certificate of transfer to Reserve dated 3 March 1919, it states he enlisted on 11 December 1915.

Source information

ID: 7962788

Title: Declaration

Description: Declaration signed by James' mother in August 1930 shortly after the death of James' father Harry. This confirms the change of name from Whiting to Hayward and clearly mentions the family "assumed" the name of Hayward.

Connected by: Diane58212

Additional: The declaration lists all of James' brothers and sisters, and the date and place of his parents' marriage.

Source information

ID: 7962794

Title: Home Guard in WW2

Description: Certificate detailing James proficiency in certain tasks in the Home Guard in WW2.

Connected by: Diane58212

Additional: James was a Sergeant in the Home Guard during WW2 in B Company, 10th Wiltshire Battalion.

Source information

ID: 7962810

Title: Medals

Description: James Hayward's medals

Connected by: Diane58212

Additional: From l to r - British War Medal, Victory Medal, WW2 medal and Long Service medal presented to James when he retired as a civilian worker at the War Department, later known as the Ministry of Defence.

Source information

ID: 7962815

Title: Census return

Description: 1911 census return showing James, his parents and the remaining brothers and sisters who still lived at home.

Connected by: Diane58212

Additional: This confirms his age, his occupation, and the family's address.

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