Lives of the First World War

known 28th December 1917

Pioneer Walter Ashton Hayes was the son of the late Thomas Alfred and Ellen Hayes of Chapel Street. A letter from his sergeant stated that he was killed by a high explosive shell whilst defending a sunken road. He was educated at Claremont College, Blackpool and was an electrical engineer by profession. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs Royce's Ltd of Manchester, for whom he undertook the superintendence of several of their large undertakings, one of them being the erection of the electrical cranes used in the widening of the Blackfriars Bridge. Later he entered the employ of Messrs T Camott & Co also of Manchester. He enlisted in the Liverpool Scottish, afterwards transferring to the Royal Engineers. He had been twice previously wounded, on one occasion lying in a shell hole for thirty hours.

Created by: , John6705