James Hayes was born about 1882 in Mostyn. He was recorded on the 1891 census living with his family in Halendy, Mostyn. Head of the household was widower William Hayes 56 a Labourer in the ironworks who had been born in Prestatyn. Listed in the household were 2 sons, William George 11 and James 9. Also included in the census was a sister Sarah Lyon (?) who was 43 and listed as a housekeeper.

Ten years later in the census of 1901, 19 year old James was a Porter at a Grocer’s Shop. His father 66 was still a Labourer in the Iron works. The census records the two of them in Halendy, Mostyn.

In 1903 James Hayes married Sarah Jones. (Qtr June, District Holywell Vol 11b page 404)

The 1911 census records James and his family at Park View, Halendy. He was 29 and a General Labourer in the ironworks. His wife of 8 years, Sarah was 29. She had given birth to 4 children but one had died. The listed children in the household were William John 8, Thomas Ed 6 and Maggie was 2.

UK Soldiers who Died in The Great War accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details listed at the top of this page. It adds that he enlisted in Holywell.  His medal index card also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medals and tells us that his first Theatre of war was The Balkans and that he entered it on the 8th August 1915.

The following newspaper accounts appeared in the Flintshire Observer.

21st October 1915

Died of Wounds Pte James Hayes Mostyn

Intimation was received on Monday by Mrs Hayes of Halendy Mostyn of the death of her husband, Private James Hayes of the 1st/5th Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Private Hayes was wounded some time ago as reported in the Flintshire Observer and News and was removed to Alexandria where he died. Deceased leaves a widow and six young children. For six weeks after it was ascertained that he was wounded, no tidings could be obtained and it was only after persistant inquiry and telegraphing that the final information was received.

(NB As Private Hayes was buried in Portianos Military Cemetery which is on the Greek island of Lemnos,  it is highly unlikely that he died in Alexandria)

28th October 1915

Last Sunday evening at the English Congregational Church Halendy, Mostyn a Memorial Service was held for Private James Hughes who died from dysentery following wounds sustained in the fighting in the Dardanelles. The church was crowded. Mrs Hayes and her young family of six children were present, also Mr and Mrs jack Hayes (brother and sister in law) Prescot, a sister from Southport and a large number of relatives living in the district. Before the service, Mr W Griffiths the deceased soldier’s Sunday School teacher paid a high tribute to his former scholar. The Rev Mordyr Evans took the service and preached an appropriate sermon. At the close, Mr Benjamin Parry played The Dead March. A brother of Private J Hayes- Robert Hayes of Flint- has fallen in the war and four cousins are also reported to have been  lost. 

The Army listed James Hayes in its Records of Soldier’s Effects. This is accessible on Ancestry. There is an entry for James Hayes Private 2917 of the 1st/5th Royal Welsh Fusiliers. It states that he died of Dysentery in Mudros West on the 8th October 1915. His widow and 6 children  were awarded £6.10

 There is an index card for James Hayes in the Flintshire Roll of Honour in The County Record Office in Hawarden. The card is incomplete and includes the sentence ” Family has left this district and can get no information” It, however, included his name and that he’d lived in Halendy, Mostyn. It stated that he’d been in the 1/5th RWF and that he’d died on the 8th October 1915. It says that he’d ‘Died of dysentery in the Field Hospital at commencement of war’. It was signed by vicar W Vaughan Jones on 31st October 1919.

James Hayes’s Commonwealth War Grave Certificate tells us that his family went to live in Rochdale. See link above

James was the brother of Private Robert Jones, formerly Hayes, who died in the war and is remembered on the Flint War Memorial.