William Hayes was the son of William and Rebecca Hayes, of Ireland.

Enlisted, 13 January 1916 Trentham; discharged, unfit, 20 April 1916.
War service: Western Front
Embarked Wellington, 9 June 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 16 August 1917, and marched into 5th Reserve Bn, Tidworth.
Proceeded overseas to France, 23 October 1917; joined 1st Bn, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, in the field, 2 November 1917, and posted to A Company.
Wounded in action, 27 March 1918 (gun shot wound, chest), and admitted to No 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital.
Died of wounds, 27 March 1918.
54419 Rifleman C.G. WRACK stated: 'On the afternoon of 26th Mar. I saw Rfm Hayes W.J. wnd slightly in the head & very severely above the rt knee. I helped to put him on the stretcher, & he was carried out by two stretcher bearers since wnd. On return one of the stretcher bearers told me that on the way down Rfm Hayes became very weak & they bandaged his leg as soon as he stopped struggling. He was taken to the Dressing Station where the stretcher bearers asked the orderlies to put him on the ambulance.'

Parents: William and Rebecca Hayes, Ireland

Second Attestation Form gives religion as Roman Catholic. AWMM