SERGT STEPHEN HAYHURST

Rank:SerjeantService No:

Date of Death:

Age:

Regiment/Service:

Grave Reference

Cemetery

14771

13/01/1916

31

Border Regiment

8th Bn.

II. C. 54.

BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD

Additional Information:

Son of Gilbert and Sarah Hayhurst, of Woodhead, Morland, Penrith.

Older brother of Corporal Cornelius Hayhurst also named on the memorial

Acting Serjeant 14771, 8th Battalion, Border Regiment. Died of wounds 13 January 1916. Aged 31. Born and enlisted Penrith, resident Morland. Son of Gilbert and Sarah Hayhurst, of Woodhead, Morland, Penrith. 

In the 1911 census was a servant, (a Carter), aged 25, born Morland and resident Broadraine Mill, Killington, Sedbergh. 

In the 1901 census he was the son of Gilbert and Sarah Hayhurst, brother of Cornelius, aged 16, a Farmer's Son, born Morland and resident with his family in Wood Head, Morland.

1891 England Census 

Family living in Morland 

Gilbert Hayhurst – b.1851  Whittington, Lancashire

Sarah Hayhurst – b.1849  Tatham, Lancashire ;

Robert Hayhurst – b.1876 Morland ( who married Mary Elizabeth Dent, sister of Frederick Dent)

Gilbert Hayhurst – b.1878 Morland

Aaron Burrow Hayhurst – b.1880 Morland

John Thomas Hayhurst – b.1882 Morland

Moses Hayhurst - b1883 Morland

Stephen Hayhurst - b1884Morland 

William Hayhurst - b 1888  Morland

Cornelius Hayhurst – b 29 January 1890 Morland 

1901 England Census 

Family living at Wood Head, Morland 

Gilbert Hayhurst - corn miller and farmer

Sarah Hayhurst - wife

Robert Hayhurst - miller and carter

Aaron Hayhurst - miller and cafter

John Thomas Hayhurst – carpenter's/joiner's apprentice

Moses Hayhurst - miller

Stephen Hayhurst - farmer's son

William Hayhurst - son

Cornelius Hayhurst - son

1911 England Census

Stephen Hayhurst living with brother, Aaron Burrow Hayhurst and his wife Ann and their 2 children William and an infant daughter, at BroadraineMill, Killington Sedbergh, unmarried and occupation given as'Carter'.

Cornelius now in Canada

1911 emigration to Australia -

Australian Electoral Rolls for 1913 show a Stephen Hayhurst living at Uruba Siding, Herbert District,Queensland, Australia.Occupation given as'Labourer

17 Jan 1914 arrived in London, England having sailed from Brisbane, Australia on SS

Orama.

Occupation given as 'Labourer'.

7th September 1914 -

Stephen enlists into the army at Penrith. Still unmarried. a farmer's son

He was 5' 10 and a half inches tall, with btue eyes and light brown hair, religion was

Church of England

There is also a mention of him having had previous military experience in the Cumb and West Yeomanry discharging from it on emigrating to Australia. 

His service record notes that his father, Gilbert, died on 9th July 1911.

Stephen died of wounds on 13 Jan 1916 whilst serving with 8th Battalion, Border

Regiment. Service Number 14771.

He is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at Bailleul

Communal Cemetery Extension, BaiIleul, France.

Grave Reference - II. C. 54.

Also on his service record are the following details about his surviving family as given by

Robert Hayhurst in 1919 -

His mother, Sarah, is living at Lyvennet Hill, Morland, as are his brothers Robert and

Moses.

Brother Gilbert is Iiving in Roche Plain, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Brother Aaron Burrow is living in Bentham, Lancashire.

Brother John Thomas is living in Manitoba, Canada.

Brother William is living in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada.

Herald 22 Jan 1916 reports his death aged 30. His mother had received two letters, one from a Sister Campbell from on e of the casualty clearing stations saying that he had come in severely wounded and died of his wounds.She sent a lock of his hair and said 'It is dreadful to think of what you poor mothers are suffering at this present time' The other letter was from Quarter Master Sergeant Burrows who praised the good  example he set. He was wounded on the very day he was made a full sergeant. The Herald ststed he worked at the mill prior to going to Australia in 1911. He returned home early in 1914 and enlisted at Penrith shortly after the outbreak of war rising to the rank of sergeant.

His last letter home to his mother dated 8th Nov 1915 was written in pencil from' the first firing trench, and the shells are whizzing over us all the time but....of course we have got quite used to them now but.....its rather a funny sensation at first'. 'We have had a devil of a lot of rain lately, and the trenches have been in a bad state'.

He has heard from his mother that his brother Corney has joined the Canadian forces -'what a happy surprise you would get when you even heard of him after such a long time'. He hopes that Moses will 'see his way clear to stay at home'- presumably to run the mill 'till me and Corney comes back'. He says to his mother  'when you are having a baking day try and  remember me '

He is mentioned on the gravestone to his parents in Morland churchyard

Morland Churchyard

In loving memory of Gilbert Hayhurst of Lyvennet Mill who died at Woodhead Morland Jul 9th1911 in his 61st year also Sarah wife of the above who died Jan 25th 1922 aged 73 years also of Sarah daughter of the above who died in infancy also of Stephen and Cornelius 6th and 8th sons of the above who both died of wounds in France during the great war 1916-1918 agd 31 and 28 years also of Robert eldest son of the above who died at Bradford 6th Dec 1947 aged 71 years. Thy will be done

Moses stayed at the mill and the late Jimmy Hayhurst of Whitegates Newby, Kit Hayhurst,  and Sarah are his grandchildren. 

Aaron Burrow went to Kemplee where his grandson farmed until 2001.

Robert (who married the sister of Fred Dent q.v.) was the grandfather of Ann Shepherd of Bolton, Raymond Hayhurst of Carlisle ( whose wife is the great niece of Lieutenant Joseph Powley) and******

I am grateful to the members of the Hayhurst family who have provide photos letters etc.

Cumberland News Article 29/1/16 p.8.a

Picture courtesy of Spike.

http://freewebs.com/kendalpals/ROH6.htm

HAYHURST