The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Hayes
- First Name:
- Keith Thomas
- Nick Name:
- Bully
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX11202
- Classification:
- Driver
- Company:
- 'C' Company, No. 10 Platoon.
- Enlisted:
- 18.03.1941
- DOB:
- 10.11.1919
- Place of Birth:
- East Perth, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Thomas Joseph Hayes
- Mothers's Name:
- Eileen Hayes
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Truck Driver
- Memorial:
- Kranji War Cemetery, Collective Grave, Plot 2B, Row C, Grave 10-14, Age 22.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- Hill 200, Ulu Pandan
- Date of Death:
- 12.02.1942
- Buried:
- Where killed at map reference 761126 by Major A. Cough Party on 21.12.1942
General Description
Bully enlisted AIF 15 Jan 1941, later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company as a Driver. Sent with 2/4th to further train at Woodside SA, then Darwin before sailing with Battalion on ‘Aquitania’ to Singapore mid Jan 1942 ex Sydney via Fremantle.
Bully was located on West coast of Singapore with 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy No. 10 Platoon when the Japanese began their invasion.
He was climbing Hill 200 with Dudley Squire WX9330. Both men were riddled with machine gun bullets and killed. Bully was just 22 years old.
Please read further about Ulu Pandan.
Please read about the recovery of Bully’s body.
Bully’s parents Thomas Joseph Hayes and Eileen Kathleen H Flanagan married about 1919 Perth. ‘Bully’ was the eldest of five children. There is no doubt young Keith was given the name ‘Bully’ because stories continued to be written about the buccaneer Bully Hayes well after his 1870’s death and up to and including 1930’s.
‘Bully’ Hayes was born William Henry Hayes 1829 Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
‘Bully’ was a man of many skills and habits – adventurer, blackbirder, merchant ship’s master, pirate, prisoner, bigamist and swindler just to mention some. He became notorious around the Pacific Ocean from 1850s-1870. It is impossible to sift facts from fable. In later years fiction stories and films were made about ‘Bully’. We believe this is how our ‘Bully’ Hayes earned his family given nick-name!
In 1925 and 1931 Electoral Rolls Thomas J Hayes and Eileen were residing Wittenoon Street, East Perth. Thomas was employed as a motor driver, and Eileen home duties.
Prior to ‘Bully’ enlisting he was living with his parents at Wittenoom St, East Perth (1943 Electoral Roll) and working as a truck driver. His father was a barman. We know Eileen Hayes became proprietor of the Majestic Wine Saloon in late 1939. It was part of a newly built private Hotel, The Rex Hotel.
We believe Eileen died unexpectedly mid 1942, she was only 44 years old.
Bully’s mother Eileen died June 1942. The Hayes family had not received news of Bully at that time, other than he was missing.
Below a write up about ‘Bully’ Hayes the buccaneer! It is not difficult to understand how this buccaneer’s life and adventures appealed to young Aussies.
