Allen / J's Story.
6593 Private A. Hayes, 3rd King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, died of the plague at Maitland, Cape Town, on 23rd October 1901. He appears on the monument in Crewe as “J Hayes” but his regimental number is linked to Private Allen Hayes. The KIngs Own Lancaster Memorial lists only a Private A Hayes in their 3rd Btn.
Private A Hayes of 3rd Btn Royal Lancaster Regt is listed in Lancaster Priory on the Boer War memorial to men who died
Private J Hayes of 3rd Btn Royal Lancaster Regt appears on the Boer War memorial in Queens Park, Crewe
There is a J Hayes of no known dates buried in Muizenberg, Cape Town - could this be the same person? And if he is Private Allen Hayes, what is his link to Crewe?
What do we know about Allen?
Allen Hayes was born on 1st February 1880, in Denton, Lancashire. He was the second son of Thomas Hayes (1851 – 1897) and Elizabeth nee Wych (1857 – 1895), and brother to James (1876 – 1916), Lily (1883 - ), Albert (1888 – 1917) and Hannah (1891 - ). He was named after his maternal uncle, Allen Wych.
Allen grew up at 9 King Street, Audenshaw, Ashton under Lyne, where his father was a hat blocker. (He made and shaped hats on which his wife put the trimmings.) Both of his parents had died by the time Allen was 17 years old.
He enlisted into the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, 3rd Battalion, on 13th July 1899, at Denton, Lancashire, aged 19 years and 4 months. His address was 11 Kilshaw Lane, Hooley Hill, Audenshaw. He had been working as a carter for Mr Mellors, a coal merchant.
Allen died of the plague at Maitland, Cape Town, on October 23rd, 1901. He was 21 years old. His death was originally notified in the casualty lists as Private E. Ayres. He appears on the monument in Crewe as “J Hayes” but no connection to the town of Crewe has yet been established. No family members lived there or worked for the LNWR. There is a J Hayes of no known dates buried in Muizenberg, Cape Town - could this be Allen?
The register of deceased soldiers’ effects lists his two eldest siblings James and Lily as his beneficiaries (see below) so we can assume he was not married.
His attestation papers from 13th July 1899:
Private A Hayes of 3rd Btn Royal Lancaster Regt is listed in Lancaster Priory on the Boer War memorial to men who died
Private J Hayes of 3rd Btn Royal Lancaster Regt appears on the Boer War memorial in Queens Park, Crewe
There is a J Hayes of no known dates buried in Muizenberg, Cape Town - could this be the same person? And if he is Private Allen Hayes, what is his link to Crewe?
What do we know about Allen?
Allen Hayes was born on 1st February 1880, in Denton, Lancashire. He was the second son of Thomas Hayes (1851 – 1897) and Elizabeth nee Wych (1857 – 1895), and brother to James (1876 – 1916), Lily (1883 - ), Albert (1888 – 1917) and Hannah (1891 - ). He was named after his maternal uncle, Allen Wych.
Allen grew up at 9 King Street, Audenshaw, Ashton under Lyne, where his father was a hat blocker. (He made and shaped hats on which his wife put the trimmings.) Both of his parents had died by the time Allen was 17 years old.
He enlisted into the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, 3rd Battalion, on 13th July 1899, at Denton, Lancashire, aged 19 years and 4 months. His address was 11 Kilshaw Lane, Hooley Hill, Audenshaw. He had been working as a carter for Mr Mellors, a coal merchant.
Allen died of the plague at Maitland, Cape Town, on October 23rd, 1901. He was 21 years old. His death was originally notified in the casualty lists as Private E. Ayres. He appears on the monument in Crewe as “J Hayes” but no connection to the town of Crewe has yet been established. No family members lived there or worked for the LNWR. There is a J Hayes of no known dates buried in Muizenberg, Cape Town - could this be Allen?
The register of deceased soldiers’ effects lists his two eldest siblings James and Lily as his beneficiaries (see below) so we can assume he was not married.
His attestation papers from 13th July 1899:
Compiled by S. Lewington 2025