Corps of Military Police

Cap Badge of the Corps of Military Police (King George V)
Soldier Details:
Surname: Hay
Initials:   W.
Rank:   Sergeant
Army No.:  577
Notes:   MMP Awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 22/8/1914 to 11/4/1916.. He was born in Bow, enlisted in London and resided in Alton. Died of Wounds (SI) 37 Casualty Clearing Station. Army Register of Soldiers Effects 1901 - 1929. 8/8/1916 his widow Annie recerived £1-12-00 + £12-10-00 war gratuity 24/3/1919 she received £10. Army Register of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 Served in the South African Campaign. Information from pension card: Hay, William, No. 577, MMP, Sgt, 11/4/1916 died of wounds, widow Annie Lavinia, Langham Cottage, Kingsland Road, Alton, Hampshire. 23/10/1916 she received a pension of 19/6 per week for herself and 2 children, Arthur Edward White, illegitimate stepchild born 2/2/1907 and William Henry Thomas Hay born 17/2/1913. Inscription on gravestone: Rest in peace. 1911 Census serving Bulford Camp, Wiltshire. Info from Pension Index Cards:- Hay, William, No. 577, MMP, Sgt, 20/4/1916 death notified, 11/4/1916 died of wounds in action. widow Annie Lavinia, Laugham Cottage, Kingsland Road, Alton, Hants, children Arthur Edward White (illegitimate stepchild) born 2/2/1907, William Henry Thomas Hay, born 17/2/1913, 23/10/1916 widow received 19/6d per week. Also: CLAIMANT, MPW 5. 11/w/39206, Hay, A. L. man's name Hay William, No. 577, Sgt, MMP, relationship widow. Also: 23. Hay, Annie Lavinia, Langham Cottage, Kingsland Road, Alton, Hants, 577, Sgt William Hay, MMP. William Hay. Extract from the Devizes and Wilts Advertiser 10 February 1910. More Soldiers in Trouble. John Murphy, John Lyons, Peter Barrett and John Thompson, privates of the Royal Munster Fusiliers, were charged with having stolen from a shop at Ludgershall, on Jan. 30th the property of Charles Wiles, the following articles, viz.: a cigar cutter, a cigarette holder, a box of cigars, 8oz of tobacco, a bundle of pencils, and a box of cheroots valued at 11s. Cpl Hay, of the Military Mounted Police, stated that he was in Ludgershall on duty, about 9.50 p.m., on Jan. 30th. He received information from prosecutor to the effect that a box of cheroots had been stolen from his shop, the Temperance Hotel, by four men of the Munster Fusiliers. he found defendants in Worsford's coffee shop in Ludgershall. He questioned them about the loss of the cheroots and they denied all knowledge of them. He took them to the police station and told them they had better maker a clean breast of it. whereupon they admitted the offence. Each sentencded to one calendar moth's hard labour.

Decorations/Medals/Awards (1)
  1. Decoration:   Mention in Despatches Gazette Date: 1916-01-01 Gazette Issue: 29422 Gazette Page: 72
Citation:   France & Flanders. Sgt.
Casualty Details:
Date Killed: 11th April 1916
Company: 4 DIVISION
Cemetery: AVESNES-LE-COMTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY   FRANCE
CWGC Search:
Grave Photograph
Map