William Kaye

In memoriam

Service No: 294132 Age: 28 Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery, 143rd Heavy Bty. Son of James William and Alice Ann Kaye, of 48, Queen St., Hurst, Ashton-under-Lyne. ------------------- RANK Gunner. SERVICE NUMBER 294132 BATTALION 143rd Heavy Battery (Ashton-u-Lyne). (Known as ‘The Ashton Strafers’). REGIMENT Royal Garrison Artillery (Heavy Branch). DATE AND PLACE ENLISTED 15th February 1916 in Ashton-Under-Lyne. DATE FIRST SERVED IN THEATRE OF WAR 24th July 1916 in Salonika, Greece. DIED OF ILLNESS Aged 28 at one of the General Hospitals stationed in Salonika, Greece. INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICE William was originally assigned to the 143rd Company of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Heavy Battery) as Gunner 3408. He was 5’7” tall with fair hair and in good health. He was issued with a travel pass (pictured below) the day after he attested and travelled to Blackpool to commence training. His regimental number eventually changed to 294132. INFORMATION ABOUT REGIMENT Heavy Batteries of the RGA were equipped with heavy guns, sending large calibre high explosive shells in fairly flat trajectory fire. The usual armaments were 60 pounder (5 inch) guns, although some had less effective 5 inch Howitzers. As British Artillery tactics developed, the Heavy Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. The 143rd Heavy Battery embarked for Salonika in July 1916. EVENTS LEADING TO DEATH William died of Broncho-Pneumonia and Malaria while in hospital. His effects were listed as ‘Spectacles, Prince Nez leather case, photos, metal watch (8 day), wrist watch and strap (skin), cap badge and some letters. It took over a year, and several exchanges of letters, for these items to be returned to his family. WAR MEMORIALS LISTINGS St Michael’s Church War Memorial, Ashton-u-Lyne. (William’s surname is listed as ‘Kay’). The War Memorial in Hurst Cemetery, Ashton-u-Lyne. Ashton-u-Lyne War Memorial on Crickets Lane. MEDALS British War and Victory Medals. FAMILY INFORMATION PLACE OF BAPTISM 5th July 1890 at St George’s Church, Mossley. NAME OF FATHER James William Kaye. NAME OF MOTHER Alice Ann Kaye nee Dunkerley. DATE AND PLACE OF PARENTS MARRIAGE 17th May 1886 at St George’s Church, Mossley. NAME OF SIBLINGS WITH YEAR OF BIRTH Plevna 22/10/1886 and Alice 2/5/1896 (died September 1899) both born in Mossley. OTHER SUPPORTING FAMILY DOCUMENTATION William’s parents were still living at 48 Queen Street, Hurst, when they learned of William’s death. Father James died in Ashton-u-Lyne, aged 67, in 1932. Mother Alice died in Ashton-u-Lyne, aged 82, in 1949. Sister Plevna married Arthur Fletcher on 4th February 1911, at St John the Evangelist Church, Hurst, Ashton-u-Lyne. William was one of the witnesses who signed the marriage register. In April 1922, Plevna and her family embarked for Sydney in Australia. They made Australia their home and Plevna died in Naremburn, New South Wales, aged 85, on 9th July 1970. Sister Alice who died aged 3, is buried in St George’s Churchyard, Mossley. The burial book does not state the plot number and most of this cemetery has been grassed over.

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