George Henderson Hay
an Anzac Hero
by Nicholas Allan
George Henderson Hay – Twentieth Century Impressions of Western Australia, P.W.H. Thiel & Co., 1901. page 560.
George Henderson Hay was born on 27 June 1872 in Bathurst, New South Wales to his parents Martin Flynn of Ireland and Helen Henderson of Scotland. George’s diverse experiences, spanning from one side of Australia to the other, shaped him into a much-loved family man, publican, gold mine manager, estate manager, and eventually a war hero.
It all began with the chance meeting of his parents Martin and Helen in Wollongong, NSW. Martin Flynn was born November 1836 in Tipperary, Ireland. He immigrated with his older brother John and arrived in Sydney in 1859 when he was 23. At some point, he made his way down to Wollongong and resided in Mount Pleasant.
Helen Hay was born in a town called Saltoun in Scotland 20 miles east of Edinburgh. She was born on 14th February 1845 to her parents Ann Hay and George Henderson who were multi-generational shoemakers and residents of the area. Anne was 31 years old and George was 45 years old at the time of her birth. Helen had a tough journey to Australia in the year 1865 when she was just 20 years old.
It was in Bathurst that George and his siblings were brought up on his father’s farm in the western district of the colony. Bathurst boomed in population during the 1850s during the gold rush. At the time when the Flynn-Hay’s resided in the area, there were about 80 Hotels and Inn’s and several breweries. Martin Flynn managed one of these pubs called Excelsior Hotel.
After the death of George’s young brother Reginald, the family packed up and made the move to Western Australia in the early 1890’s. At the age of 20, living in the golden era, George was eager to find his riches on the goldfields. It was the year 1892 in Coolgardie when he began prospecting the land and continued for the next 6 years. In 1894 terrible news struck. His 18-year-old sister Marion passed away. This would have been a huge loss to the family as they were all very close to each other.
Around the year 1896, at the age of 24, George was managing the Club Hotel in Kalgoorlie which was the main “Substantial” building on Hannan’s street. It was around this time that he met the love of his life, Mary Isabella Halls. The daughter of a mine manager of Grenfell, NSW. It is presumed that either her mining connections landed her in the town of Kalgoorlie or they already knew each other growing up in the Bathurst/Forbes area as they were only 2 years apart in age. On new year’s day, 1897 George and Mary Isabella (Bella) were married in Kalgoorlie. According to an article in the ‘Kalgoorlie Western Argus’ – “The bride, who is related to another old pioneer, Mr Downey, looked charming in her wedding costume, as did the bridesmaids, Misses Weir, Hay, and Millar”.
Club Hotel, Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie.
During his time in Kalgoorlie, George was a prominent figure in the Cannington Mounted Infantry. This squadron was part of the Western Australian Mounted Infantry regiment that was made up of volunteer cavalry scattered around the southern region of the state. The squadron was described in a newspaper in 1900 as the following, “The men appeared to be of fine physique, good horsemen, and presented quite an imposing display”. The Cannington Mounted Infantry was favoured by the Perth Mayor William. G. Brookman, who was George’s brother in law. They were entertained regularly at the Brookman’s estate.
The Cannington Troup 1900
George’s mother Helen was also well-reputed as an independent and powerful woman. She was famous as being the first “white woman” on the goldfields having prospected a large area around Burracoppin. Helen was also the manager/publican of a few hotels at the time situated in Burracoppin, Boulder, Gordon Township and “Hay Cottage” pictured below in Kalgoorlie. The Hay Cottage was a significant stone house that Helen ran as a boarding house. To achieve what Helen did at the time, after all her worldly travels and challenges, demonstrates her resilience and determination for success.
Helen Hay
Above: Hay Cottage Kalgoorlie – 1896. George and his family and friends, including his mother Helen, assembled in front of their cottage for the opening of the railway. Source: Obtained by Jillian Taylor, both sources unknown. (Allan is trying to locate a better copy of this photograph)
After a year of marriage in 1898 and still living in the goldfields, George and Bella had their first child, William Gordon Hay. This was then followed by their other children Stella Bonnie born in 1899 and George Hopetoun in 1900. Sadly, George Hopetoun Hay passed away at the age of 15mths at Donnybrook WA. This could have provoked their next big move to the coastal town of Bunbury, Western Australia. It looks like most of the family made the same lifestyle shift from dust to sand.
Now settled in Bunbury on the 20th November 1904 George and Bella had another son Cecil George Hay. Here they lived for the next 6 years also having another daughter named Dulcie. George also continued his involvement in the military.
In 1912 their next move was back across the continent to Sydney, New South Wales. Here they lived in Summer Hill, an inner-city suburb. George’s occupation is listed as a Bricklayer. Yet another career move and most likely a great job in between his military commitments. He was literally laying the foundation for the generation of today. In July of 1914, the news broke of events in Europe. A war had begun, and Australian troops were called upon. George was now 42 years old when he joined the military full time. He and his brother William were both summoned. He had no knowledge of what to expect overseas and the time came to leave his family on the 9th August 1915 to embark overseas on the ship HMAT SS RUNIC.
George began his military ranking as a Private although his prior managerial experience and entrepreneurial skills must have impressed his superiors. Over the course of 2 years, travelling across Northern Africa to Gaza, he was promoted to Sergeant Major of the Imperial Camel Corps.
George, as an ANZAC, landed in Gallipoli on the 31st October 1915, to fill in for a wounded Sergeant. The terror he faced would have been unimaginable with the lives lost in front of his eyes. Within the next two months, he made his way back to Alexandria. Between Sollum and Alexandria were the main calling points where he was subsequently awarded the French War hero’s medal the “Croix de Guerre” by the President of the French Republic on the 30th March 1917.
Surely, he performed an act of bravery to save his fellow soldiers to overcome the enemy. As a family man, and a much-loved person in all his prior communities, bravery would have been second nature to him. “Croix de Guerre is an award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy”
Croix de Guerre – A War Hero’s medal.
The following few weeks continued with skirmishes and fighting. In Gaza, on the 19th of April, during the “Second Battle of Gaza”, George and his brigade were attacked by Ottoman forces. Tragically George and his brigade were ‘shelled’ as they retreated back into the water. He was among 6,444 casualties of the allied forces that died during this 3-day battle. His records state the cause as “died of wounds”.
The news was relayed back to the family in Australia who already had more tragic news. George’s brother Neil also died in Melbourne just before the news of George arrived.
George’s passing was certainly regretted as demonstrated in various memorials. A tragic end to a great man that left behind a rich legacy. His strength, resilience, and tenacity, inherited from his mother Helen, flow through all the current family today. I write this short biography as a proud member of the Hays descendants. Lest we Forget.
Greater Love Hath No Man Who Lays Down His Life For His Friends
from G. H. Hay’s military Memoriam
Note: Special thanks to the research contributions of Jillian Taylor, the granddaughter of George H Hay’s sister Stella, who currently resides in Western Australia. Jillian is the 2nd cousin to our grandmother Diane Allan (nee Hay).
Moya Sharp
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