Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual Second World War Burma operations M.M. awarded to Acting Warrant Officer Class 2 L. Hayes, Royal Artillery

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (786226 A.W.O.Cl. 2 L. Hayes, R.A.), minor edge bruise, good very fine £1200-1400

M.M. London Gazette 20 September 1945. The original recommendation – for a B.E.M. - states:

‘On 7 June 1945, the Troop of which Battery Sergeant-Major Hayes was acting as Troop Sergeant-Major was in action on the Mawchi road, Burma, when the gun position was heavily shelled. Several casualties were caused and a limber containing 25-pounder H.E. shells and charges, and a jeep containing small arms ammunition, were set on fire.

The 25-pounder charges were exploding and throwing burning fragments over the area, causing outbreaks of at least a dozen fresh fires. Realising that there was grave danger of these fires spreading to other ammunition dumps and to the guns and equipment on the position, Battery Sergeant-Major Hayes, with two officers, went in to extinguish the fires. Notwithstanding that charges were still exploding, that small arms ammunition from the blazing jeep was being continuously discharged, and that there was a strong probability of the ammunition trailer blowing up, Battery Sergeant-Major Hayes approached the ammunition trailer which was blazing furiously and coolly operated a fire extinguisher on to the flames. He then threw earth and water on to the trailer. Whilst he was doing this two charges exploded flinging into the air a heavy piece of metal which narrowly missed Battery Sergeant-Major Hayes. Undeterred by this, he resolutely continued to fight the flames and eventually succeeded in extinguishing them.

He then assisted in putting out the fire on the burning jeep, in spite of the danger from small arms bullets and, finally, rendered yeoman service in assisting to put out the remaining fires on the position. The deliberate acceptance by this W.O. of the risks involved and the cheerful and energetic manner in which he carried out his dangerous task were an inspiration to the men in his Battery.

His courageous action unquestionably averted what might have been a serious explosion, and rendered it possible for much valuable equipment to be withdrawn to a safe place until all the fires were extinguished.’

Leonard Hayes, a native of Manchester, was serving in 115 Field Regiment, R.A. at the time of the above cited deeds.