Arthur Hayes was born on the 16th January 1914 and enlisted into the 1st Battalion at Mansfield, Nottingham on the 2nd January 1933 for a period of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in reserve.  

Later in 1938, he was serving with the 2nd Battalion at the Headquarter Wing No. 2 (MT Section). He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 27th November 1940 and Corporal on the 22nd August 1942. Arthur was part of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F) who had failed to reach Dunkirk so he made his way across France making for St Nazaire. It was here that Arthur was to be involved in one of the greatest British Maritime disasters in history. He managed to board the 16,000 ton liner the ‘Lancastria’ which was packed with thousands of other British servicemen. Enemy aircraft was a big problem and it wasn’t long before the ship took a direct hit and very soon started to capsize and sink. Arthur was lucky enough to be rescued and made his way back home, but thousands weren’t so lucky going down with the ship with many bodies of servicemen being washed up along the French coastlines.