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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 365

'Lt. Col. Hayes was a born solider and was devoted to the Army and to his profession. He was an able Surgeon, as already mentioned, an accomplished musician and an Oriental scholar. He had a fine physique and a handsome presence and there were few men more full of wit, gaiety and vivicity. His courage on the field of battle met with public acknowledgment, but it was not greater than the fortitude with which he concealed from those around him the nature of his last illness.'

The Lancet, 9 June 1900, refers.

A very rare 'Toski 1889' D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Hayes, Army Medical Department and Egyptian Army, a veteran of Afghanistan who showed compassion towards scores of wounded and sick Dervish whilst Principal Medical Officer to Major-General Sir Francis Grenfell in Egypt and Sudan; returned to the fold on the outbreak of the Boer War, Hayes commanded the Connaught Hospital, Aldershot despite his own failing health and selflessly treated his last patient just six days before his own passing

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, top riband bar adapted for mounting; Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (Surgn. A. E. Hayes, A.M.D.); Egypt 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, Gemaizah 1888, Toski 1889 (Surgeon Maj: A. E. Hayes. Med: Staff (E.A.); Khedive's Star 1884-6, unnamed as issued; Turkey, Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class neck Badge, silver and enamel with gold applique centre, local marks to reverse, mounted as worn where applicable, very fine (5)

One of just 8 D.S.O.s for the Battle of Toski, 3 August 1889.

D.S.O. London Gazette 8 November 1889:

'In recognition of services during the action of Toski.'

Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class London Gazette 17 January 1890:

'In recognition of service in the actions at Toski and Gemaizah whilst actually and entirely employed beyond Her Majesty's Dominions with the Egyptian Army.'

Aylmer Ellis Hayes was born on 9 November 1850 and studied at St.Mary's Hospital in 1865, qualifying in 1871. Initially commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Durham Engineers (Militia) in September 1872, he joined the Army Medical Staff in 1877, seeing active service in Afghanistan (Medal). A keen interest in the languages no doubt helped his cause, for he had '...passed the higher standard of Persian and gained the prize in Arabic open to officers of the Army.'

Further active service in the Sudan 1888-89 followed, for he was present at the actions of Gemaizah and Toski - serving as Principal Medical Officer of the Egyptian Army at the latter. During the campaign he added a brace of 'mentions' (London Gazette 11 January (Gemaizah) and 6 September 1889, refers), the second of which is worthy of note:

'When the reconnaissance developed into a general action [Toski], Surgeon-Major Hayes quickly returned to the camp, arranged and increase of 80 beds on the 70 already organised, improvised a Bearer Column, and all wounded first received first field dressings as they fell and seriously wounded men were conveyed to hospital by stretcher parties and camels. This rapid organisation reflects great credit on Surgeon-Major Hayes.

I have every reason to be satisfied with all his arrangements for Egyptian wounded. In addition to the care of Egyptian wounded, Surgeon-Major Hayes had arranged for a large number of Dervish sick and wounded, and has worked night and day to alleviate their sufferings.'

The sight must have been something to behold amongst the sands of southern Egypt. Whilst the allies suffered some 25 killed and 140 wounded, the enemy suffered 1,200 dead and 4,000 captured, of which a good host would have come under the care and attention of Hayes. His D.S.O. was presented to him by Queen Victoria on 19 August 1890.

Latterly serving as Registrar and Secretary to the Surgeon-General, Netley Hospital he then commanded the 2nd Station Hospital, Aldershot 1893-95. Thence posted to Hong Kong, 1895-97, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel before retiring in September 1897. Upon the outbreak of the Boer War he re-joined the Army and was posted in command of the Connaught Hospital, Aldershot, where he cared for hundreds of the casualties from South Africa. Sadly his health was failing him and a cancer had developed in his throat. Caring for his final patient on 14 May 1900, he travelled to London and died on 19 May 1900. Hayes is buried in the Aldershot Military Cemetery; sold with copied research.

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Sold for
£2,500