People on board

HAYES, John

John Hayes was born in Wilmer, near Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary on the 25th of November 1895 to Patrick Hayes and Johanna Carroll. He was the eldest of their eight children, three of whom were alive in 1911.  Two more were born after the census, the younger born in 1914 only living a few hours. In the censuses and on the children’s birth certificates Patrick gave his occupation as Labourer, but on his own death certificate he was declared as a ‘Former British Soldier’.

In the 1911 census both Patrick and John, then aged sixteen, were ‘Garden Labourers’. It is not known when John enlisted in the army. One source records that he was first with the Royal Irish Regiment, Service Number 5031. In October 1918 he was with the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) and presumably returning from leave in Tipperary when he travelled on RMS Leinster on the 10th of October.

John Hayes did not survive the sinking nor was his body recovered. His name is recorded on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton. In July 1919 his mother received his back pay of £25 14s 10d, which included the War Gratuity of £19 10s. A note on his record says that this was at the request of his father.