Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 86416 Alfred Hayward

Age: 24
From: Manchester
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
Died Tuesday 9th April 1918
Commemorated at: Chambiere French Nat Cem Metz
Panel Ref: 344

Alfred Hayward was born in September 1893 in Manchester, the son of Charles John Hayward and his wife Fanny Isabella (née Rowland). Both his parents were born in Manchester and married in 1885. They had five children; Alfred had older siblings Charles John, Lois, and Edith Alice, and a younger sister Nellie. Baptism records have not been found; it appears the family was Wesleyan. His father is listed on records before Alfred’s birth as a grey cloth salesman.

In 1901, the family, listed as Heywood, is living at 92 Melville Street, Harpurhey, Manchester. Both his parents are 34, his father is a salesman, Charles is 13, Lucy (Lois) 12, and Nelly 4. Edith and Alfred’s names do not appear on the census, possibly accidentally omitted because of a page break. He would have been 8.

By the 1911 Census he is aged 18 and single, employed as a warehouseman and is boarding, together with his brother Charles aged 22 and a cotton salesman, with the Gillbanks family at 117 Lightbourne Rd, Moston, Manchester. Their mother is living with their married sister Edith in Eccles. His mother states she is married, but her husband is not found on the census. It is not known when he died.

Alfred married Lily Bell Chapple in Prestwich district register office in the March quarter of 1916.

He enlisted in Manchester and was originally 19501, Army Cyclist Corps before a trnasfer to the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 86416. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for two years and two months, enlisting in about January 1916, around the time he was married.

His daughter Edna was born on 9th September 1916, but sadly his wife Lily died a year later, aged 23, just months after his mother Fanny died, aged 50. It is not known if Alfred was given compassionate leave, or if he ever saw his daughter.

Alfred was initially declared Missing between 21st- 28th March 1918.

Mr. W. H. Prince (relationship unknown) of 21 Springville Avenue, Norman Road, Moston, Manchester, made enquiries with the International Red Cross, re Pte. Alfred Hayward, wounded and missing 21-25/3/1918, possibly at St. Quentin, but was notified in a reply dated 16th October 1918 that they held no information on Alfred.

Fold 3 holds a record that shows that an enquiry was made with the British Red Cross on 20th November 1918 for Alf Hayward, wounded and missing 21-28 March 1918, no further details.

Soldiers Effects records his death as “reported from Limburg as having died of wounds in Germany”. However, a search of the ICRC records has revealed no POW information on Alfred.

CWGC records show that Alfred died on 09^th April 1918 aged 24 and was buried in grave 124, at Briey Communal Cemetery German Extension in the Meurthe et Moselle Department (then in Lorraine, part of Germany, returned to France after the Armistice). After the war when graves were concentrated, his body, with those of other British soldiers, was removed and reburied in Chambières French National Cemetery, in Metz, 22 miles to the southeast.

During the winter of 1939-1940 British troops were in a sector of the Saar not far from Metz, engaged in patrol and raiding activities. The 51st (Highland) Division relieved the French 7th Division, in this area, in May 1940. Metz was liberated by American troops in November, 1944.

There are now nearly 100, 1914-18 and over 30, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Special memorials are erected to six British soldiers and one airman from the 1914-18 War, buried in JARNY and LABRY Communal German Extension, whose graves could not be found. Certain of the British graves from the 1914-18 War were brought in from POUILLY and St. JURE German Cemeteries and BRIEY Communal Cemetery German Extension.

His daughter was 19 months old when Alfred died. The pension card shows that E. Chapple, as guardian of the child Edna, 41 Corwen Ave., Church Lane, Harpurhey, Manchester was awarded the motherless rate pension of 10/- a week from November 1918. This is most likely his mother-in-law, Lily’s mother, Elizabeth, who lived in Harpurhey.

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £12 went to his daughter Edna.

In 1939 Edna was living at 58 Rydal Avenue, Sale, Cheshire. with Ada Hayward, 54, married but separated. This is possibly the wife of Alfred’s brother Charles, who married Ada Thornley in Prestwich Wesleyan Chapel in 1911. Edna is 23, a shorthand typist. She married in 1941, had two children, and lived until 2002, dying at the age of 85.

We currently have no further information on Alfred Hayward. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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