| Regimental number | 8/4347 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Oamaru |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Height | 6' 1" |
| Weight | 153 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, William James Hayes, Ardgowan, Oamaru |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Oamaru |
| Rank on embarkation | Rifleman |
| Unit name | New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Reinforcements, G Company (Second Part) |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 95 Willochra on |
| Final rank | Rifleman |
| Final unit | 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 25 |
| Place of burial | Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No 1 (Plot V, Row A, Grave No 51), France |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: William and Rebecca Hayes, Ireland |
| Other details |
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.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Second Attestation Form gives religion as Roman Catholic. |
| Sources | Nominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 66, p. 22 Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805 |