TRENTON SOLDIER'S BRAVE DEATH

Sergt, Harry S, Hayes, a well known athlete and graduate of Toronto University, was killed in action on November 2nd, after bravely doing his bit for King and Country, His Major has written to Sergt. Hayes' father as follows, concerning his death:

In the Field, November 25th,
H.W. HAYES, Trenton

Dear Sir:
I know how inadequate it is for a stranger to write a father about the loss of his son, but please do not look upon me as an outsider, as your son, in the short time that we were together, installed himself in my thoughts, I really think that the way he had of smiling with his eyes is what endeared him so much to us. Only a few days before we had a gun pit hit and the ammunition set on fire and apparently everyone was accounted for. But he had an idea that someone was in amongst the burning and exploding shells, so with his great friend, Sergeant Little, he went back to the fire and put it out, only to find that the man he thought might only be wounded, had been killed instantly. He did this under heavy shell fire with the additional danger from the bursting shells that were on fire. He was awarded the Military Medal, but unfortunately he never knew about winning the decoration. I am only mentioning one incident, but his work was always of that type. If he had been spared, he would have been granted his commission early in the winter, or rather as soon as there would have been vacancies. He was one of the finest men I have ever had the pleasure of serving with and was without exception the most efficient N.C.O. I have ever known. Your son was sitting around a fire with his men in their dugout having supper, when a large shell burst in their midst. Your son was hit in the groin, on the ferniral artery, and bled so freely, he was unconscious in a few seconds. He was bandaged at once, but we knew that life would be extinct within a very few minutes through loss of blood. Sergeant Little is also writing you, but if there should be anything further, please don't hesitate to write me at once. He was buried at Pozllires and we have erected a cross. The cross is painted white, inscription in black. The cross stands about five feet high. Most of your son's effects were destroyed, but we have forwarded what we could find.

Please accept my sympathy in your great loss and ex- tend it for me to his mother.
Very sincerely yours,
E.C. HALL, Major.