George Hayes 1925 - 2011
As some of you already
know or will have read in the Hartlepool programme my dad, George Hayes, died on 3 May after
a short illness aged 85
Myself and my
brothers are very grateful for all the condolences from fellow Addicks and from
the Club. George was an Addick from
1934 when he saw Charlton draw 2 – 2 with Palace and it was him we have to
thank for making us, and later our three sons, Addicks.
It is his funeral
tomorrow so please indulge me why I retell a small part of his long and varied life
In 1943, after he
had completed basic training the Army have discovered that George had joined up
under age as a seventeen year old.
George found he was in limbo awaiting his 18th birthday and a
posting but still in the Royal Engineers.
He volunteered for every posting that came up but as he was underage no
one would take him.
While off duty
but without a pass his passion got the better of him and he would head off to
the Valley to watch his beloved Charlton. After doing this on a number of occasions
the army decided to teach him a lesson and keep him away from the Valley by
sending him to a barracks in the Midlands. When he arrived, he was ordered to report to the
Sergeant in charge of physical training for punishment.
On meeting George the Sargeant asked him what he was being punished for, much to the
Sgt's surprise George told him that it was his fault.
As you could
imagine the Sgt was taken aback by this response until George explained to Sgt
Don Welsh (the Charlton Captain) he had been going to see him play football.
Over the following week dad took the punishments handed out by Sgt Welsh, but
on the Saturday instead of more work cleaning the gym etc the Charlton Captain
took George with him to Charlton. This went on for several weeks until a
disappointed George had to report back to his unit.
Finally, Dad volunteered for Bomb Disposal. So few
people wanted to be close to 500 lbs, 1000 lbs or even bigger unexploded Nazi
bombs that they would even take him when under-age.
Dad spent his
time in the Royal Engineers digging up unexploded German bombs or British mines
left on English beaches in case the invasion had ever come.
He wrote a poem
about those times and it is displayed, along with a photo of George, in the Britain at War Museum.
Summer 1944
These summer days of 44,
Here on England’s southern shore,
Not in some foreign field,
But here, in England, mines were tilled.
Beneath the feet where none can see,
Lie menacing cans of T.N.T.
Overhead a seagull cries,
On the beach a young man dies.
Over the years he
was occasionally asked if one of the bombs he was working on had ever gone
off. He would look sideways at the person and reply “No, because if
it had I wouldn’t be here talking to you now would I”.
Terence George Vincent Hayes Born: St Mary St Woolwich 1925 Died: QE Hospital 2011
Comments
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Now that is what I call an interesting life, RIP a true Addick and a hero
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You had a Dad, Ben , of whom you can rightly be very proud.
His contribution to the war efford can't be measured in words.
RIP to a true Addick .
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RIP0
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RIP0
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What a quality story.
Hope tomorrow goes as well as possible.
RIP George.
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RIP George.
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RIP.
That's a fantastic story, Ben. Many condolences to you and all the family.
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RIP0
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Thanks for sharing your Dad's story Ben.Condolences to you and your family.R0
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RIP
Mr Hayes.
Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Ray
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RIP. Thinking of you and your family.
Adam0 -
RIP GeorgeOur thoughts are with you and your family BenReg0
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A dad to be proud of indeed, Ben. Condolences to you and yours. RIP.0
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RIP
A dad to be very proud of, and I am sure he is proud to be your father, and a grandfather.
Sad,
strength to you.
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RIP.
Thank you for sharing your dad's wonderful story.
My condolences.
Graham
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Very moving.
A very special man.
I hope the coming weeks are as good as they can be for you and your family.
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RIP george
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RIP George.Sincere condolances to all your family Ben0
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Very sorry to hear your sad news Ben and enjoyed the lovely story of his early years following us.
Sympathies to you, all your family.
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I echo others comments on here Ben. Your father as quite clearly a brave and a special man. I hope tomorrow goes as well as it can.
My condolonces to you and your family, hold onto your memories it really does help as time passes.
RIP Mr Hays
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Sounds like your Dad was a very courageous man and we all owe him, and others like him, a great debt.Sincere condolences to your family.RIP.0
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RIP0
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Sounds like a great man.
Condolences to you and all his family and friends.
R.I.P.
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Lovely story,hope it goes as well as it can go tommorow,what a intresting life he had even in that small snippet you put up. RIP George0
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Thanks Guys for all your kinds words. Very much appreciated.
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thought it was gonna be another famous person who had passed away , who i didn't know!
RIP fellow addick , what a great story
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R.I.P.
It sounds like he lived a fantastic life.
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RIP0
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Thanks for sharing those memories and thoughts with us, Ben
Condolences from Mrs R and me.
Clive R
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A Dad to be very proud of.RIP George Hayes0
