b. 17/06/1891 Swartberg, South Africa. d. 17/01/1978 Chelsea, London.
Reginald Frederick Johnson Hayward (1891-1970) was born at Beersheba Post, Swartberg, East Griqualand, South Africa on 17th June 1891. His father, Frederick Joachim, was originally from Presteigne, Wales. He was nicknamed “Bull” due to his size. His father was originally a sheep farmer in Australia before being declared bankrupt in 1890. He then moved to South Africa where he was more successful and built a large property at Swartberg. He was also known for running an illegal still producing alcohol. Frederick married Gertrude Sarah Ann nee Harris on 15th February 1890 in Adelaide, South Australia. Reginald was one of three children born to Frederick and Gertrude.
Reginald F J Hayward
VC MC*
Reginald was educated at Hilton College, Natal where he was Regimental Sergeant Major of the cadet unit and represented his school at rugby and cricket. He joined the Durban Wanderers Rugby Club and in 1911 played in the Inter-Provincial Currie Cup. He then attended Durban Business College between 1909-1910 and, after moving to England in May 1912, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In England, he represented Rosslyn Park Rugby Club, and also played for Middlesex.
He was commissioned in the 6th Wiltshire Regiment on 29th September 1914 and was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 24th December in the same year. In March 1915 he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to 1st Wiltshires and in 1916 was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and initiative at The Somme, possibly at Stuff Redoubt, gazetted on 8th October. On 19th December he was promoted to Acting Captain. He was awarded a Bar to his MC at Messines Ridge on 7th June 1917 which was gazetted on 18th September. This was awarded for leading his company towards an objective despite being wounded twice, and being the only company officer left, achieved the capture of five machine guns and fifty prisoners.
On 21st/22nd March 1918 near Fremicourt, France, while commanding a company, Captain Hayward displayed almost superhuman powers of endurance. In spite of the fact that he was buried, wounded in the head and rendered deaf on the first day of operations and had his arm shattered two days later, he refused to leave his men (even though he received a third serious injury to his head from a bazooka) until he collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Throughout this period the enemy were attacking the company’s front without cessation, but Captain Hayward continued to move across the open from one trench to another with absolute disregard for his own safety. Due to his wounds, he was evacuated to Britain on 2nd April 1918.
He was presented with both the VC and his MC at Buckingham Palace by King George V on 24th October 1918. After the war he became Adjutant of 1st Wiltshires from 1919-1921, and served in Dublin, Egypt and Palestine. He was promoted to Captain on 21st September 1927. In 1935 he retired from the Army and in 1938 married Linda Agnes, daughter of Charles Brice Bowen at Christ Church, Burbage, Buxton, Derbyshire. In the same year he was recalled and during the Second World War served with Ack Ack Command (CRASC). From 1945 to 1947 he was Commandant, Prisoner of War Camps.
For the next 5 years he worked in the Publications Department of the BBC and from 1952 to 1967 he was games manager of the Hurlingham Club. He attended numerous VC events including the 1920 Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, 1929 VC Dinner at the House of Lords, the Victory Day Centenary Celebrations at the Dorchester Hotel in 1946, the VC Centenary in Hyde Park in 1956, and the first six VC and GC biannual reunions at the Cafe Royal, London.
He died at 7 Ormonde Gate, Chelsea, London SW3 on 17th January 1970 and his wife died a few months later, in August 1970. He was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium on 23rd January 1970. His ashes were scattered opposite Panel 13 in the Garden of Remembrance. He is also commemorated with Hayward Avenue at Putney Vale Cemetery, the Hayward Care Centre in Devizes, Wiltshire and on a VC commemorative stone at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
In addition to his VC and MC he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 and Efficiency Decoration (Territorial). The medals are now held at The Rifles Museum, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
LOCATION OF MEDAL:GLOUCS/BERKS/WILTS REGIMENT MUSEUM, SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE.
BURIAL PLACE: PUTNEY VALE CREMATORIUM, LONDON.
ASHES SCATTERED OPPOSITE PANEL 13.
Acknowledgement:
Thomas Stewart – Image of the Hayward VC Medal Group at The Rifles Museum, Salisbury.