Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1889-92 (1094 Pte. M. Hayes 2d. Bn. Devon. Regt.) good very fine £120-£160

Dix Noonan Webb, March 2008.

Maurice Hayes was born in Norwood, Middlesex. A porter by occupation, he attested for the Devonshire Regiment at Exeter on 18 December 1884. Not the best of soldiers, he was imprisoned for some offence between April and August 1887. He then deserted from December 1887 to November 1889, for which he was briefly imprisoned pending embarkation for India. With the 2nd Battalion he served in India from December 1889 to July 1897. Hayes transferred to the Army Reserve in July 1897 but was recalled for service in the Boer War in October 1899. With the Devonshires he served in South Africa, October 1899 to October 1901, and was discharged on 12 October 1901.