It was during the Battle of the Somme that James’ elder brother was killed in action. David Hay was also serving in The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) when he was killed on November 5th, 1916. His name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
By the end of 1917, James, now a Serjeant in the 5th Battalion had been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Less than a year later, in August 1918, he was awarded a bar to his Military Medal, signifying a second award of the gallantry medal.
Serjeant Hay’s distinguished service was far from over. In September 1918 notification of his award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal was announced in the London Gazette. His citation read:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When it became necessary to establish connection with the battalion on the flank, this non-commissioned officer six times crossed a gap that was heavily shelled and swept by machine-gun fire to ensure touch being obtained and kept up. His example of courage and fearless devotion to duty greatly impressed all near him.”
Only months later, Serjeant Hay, now Acting Company Serjeant Major, was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Conduct Medal. Gazetted in January, 1919, the citation states:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in patrol work. During an attack on Meath Post, 21st September, 1918, after the final objective had been reached he advanced with a patrol fully 600 yards, capturing two prisoners on the way. Later, in leading a bombing party up a trench, which he successfully cleared, he was severely wounded, but his Company were able to occupy the trench and consolidate it without loss.”
Three men from the Regiment, including CSM Hay, were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice during the Great War. CSM Hay was the only one of the three to be awarded another gallantry medal, and this he also received on two separate occasions.
After the war James re-enlisted into the Regular Army in July 1919, where he was to serve the majority of his time with the 2nd Battalion. Retiring from the Army in September 1936, Mr Hay joined the War Office, where he served until the outbreak of the Second World War. He then joined the Ministry of Supply and was employed as an Established Higher Executive Officer.
After the Second World War Mr Hay was commissioned by the War Office (he being fluent in German) to travel to Germany with the rank of Major, to track and expediate German scientist to Britain. As this particular task would take him into Russian occupied territory it was necessary for him to be in Military uniform.
Jimmy Hay died in Orpington Hospital on 14th March, 1964, at the age of 67.
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CSM James Hay |
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