Hayward, Dave

Now in his seventies, Dave Hayward was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand. He joined the army at the age of sixteen and at twenty was a corporal commanding a section of Infantry in Malaya during the ‘Emergency’. His first novel ‘Point of the Spear’ is based on that experience. Dave remained a soldier for thirty-three years and saw active service again in Borneo during Indonesia’s ‘Confrontation’ with Malaysia and in South Vietnam. It is this latter experience that is the basis of this second novel. Dave retired as the Sergeant Major of the Army — the ultimate senior-soldier appointment. His first-hand knowledge of the world of the twentieth century Infantry soldier is recognised as unique — he is regularly invited to address students at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University. In his younger days Dave was both a race and rally driver, but latterly preferred the challenge of 4WD adventures in Australia’s outback. He has recently embarked on yet another adventure — he married his neighbour, the lovely Jan Casey. “It’s not over, ’til it’s over!”