Donald Hayward of the Household Cavalry
Father was a member of the Household Cavalry; he had ceremonial obligations as well as fighting in the war. The picture was taken before the war, in his regalia.
In 1944, he was shot, probably in France, and flown home. The telegram boy would arrive, visit a house, and all the neighbours would go out in support. One day, the telegram boy came to the house when I was about 4 years old. I knew it was about Father. He had 17 pieces of shrapnel that were not able to be extracted. He died of lung cancer in 1986, possibly caused by this.
He was mentally scarred; he saw a friend commit suicide after being jilted by his fiancée in England. He stood up in front of the firing. After he was injured, he didn't return to the war.
The embroidery photographed was made by Father in the recovery hospital. He suffered from claustrophobia; in the trenches, there was corrugated iron overhead. He had to sleep with his head under it. The NCO used to check this, but as soon as the NCO had gone, he would put his feet underneath instead.
My uncle was a conscientious objector, which my father found difficult. They were not good times after the war.
