British War Medal

Record of Service:

 

Richard Hay was born about 1896 in New Zealand. He was working as a Labourer when he enlisted in the A.I.F on the 12th of November 1914. His details are scant as his original attestation paper went missing, however he was allocated service number 1659 and embarked from Sydney on the 11th of February 1915 with the 3rd Reinforcements, 4th Battalion.

 

Richard joined the 4th Battalion at Gallipoli on the 6th of May 1915, where he served until the 20th of June 1915, when he was evacuated to Malta suffering from Appendicitis. On the 28th of August 1915 he embarked for England to undergo medical treatment. He returned to the 4th Battalion on the 15th of January 1916 and on the 15th of March 1916 transferred to the 1st Div. Signal Company.

 

On the 16th of March 1916 he proceeded overseas to France. He was AWL from the 28th of April 1916 to the 11th of May 1916 and following a Court Martial was sentenced to 35 days Field Punishment. On the 12th of June 1916 he was admitted to hospital and was AWL (again) from the 29th of July to the 24th of August 1916. The last half of 1916 and the majority of 1917 was much the same, with admissions to hospital (VD) and more AWL charges and more time in detention.

 

Richard finally returned to the 1st Div. Signal Coy on the 18th of September 1917 where he appears to have behaved himself until he was admitted to hospital on the 31st of July 1918 (suffering from VD). He rejoined his Company on the 3rd of October 1918 and returned to Australia on the 14th of December 1918. He was discharged from the 2 M.D on the 31st of March 1919.

 

In 1938 Richard applied for a replacement set of medals stating that his suitcase had been stolen from a boarding house where he was stopping back in 1929. Having heard nothing from the authorities, Richard received a replacement set of medals in March 1938. He died on the 21st of June 1956.

 

Notes:

 

British War Medal impressed 1659 Pte. R.W. HAY. 4/BN. A.I.F.