6/1309 Private George Thomas Hayes, (18/5/1894-25/4/1915). "the day we landed"

ASHBURTON MAN'S LAST LETTER  (excerpt)

Private David McKay, of Ashburton, who left with the Canterbury machinegun section (Main Body) and who was s wounded at the Dardanelles on August 14, and died on the following day,  j wrote the following letter on July 28 to Major W. E. Dolman, V.D., of Ashburton: — 

"I am writing you a line or so to let you know I am still alive and keeping Ashburton's end of the stick up as far as it is possible. I can't tell you just where I am, for it is a secret, but I am sitting in a machinegun pit or dug-out, writing this, and the temperature is about 98deg. — it is frightfully hot, although it gets cool towards evening time. Well, Major Dolnmn, in the volunteers we used to growl about a bit of walking; here we do none, but what a difference!  I have seen almost every kind of shell made, bursting within killing range. The day we landed under shrapnel and Maxim gunfire (that was the day George Hayes fell) I shall never forget. I often wonder now how they missed me. But some of us had to get out of it and I was one of the lucky ones, I suppose.  -Ashburton Guardian, 14/9/1915.

The late Private G. T. Hayes was born in Ashburton on May 18, 1894. He was educated at the Ashburton Borough School, which he left as dux in 1907. He continued his education at the Ashburton Technical School and ihe International Correspondence School, where he was studying architecture. He was a member of the Oddfellows' Lodge and the Ashburton Miniature Rifle Club, of which he was a champion shot. He was also an enthusiastic Territorial. The borough school flag was flown at half-mast yesterday in honour of Private Hayes.  -Lyttelton Times, 26/5/1915.

Ashburton Cemetery.