Pte 406047 James Kay

• Age: 19
• From: Salford
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

James was born on 3rd December 1898 in Salford, the son of John David Kay and his wife Harriet (nee Eastham). His parents married on the 17th April 1897 at Stowell Memorial Church in Salford. Harriet was a widow, her first husband William Baxter died in 1895, and she had three daughters, Edith Elizabeth, and Amelia Baxter. James was baptised in St. Bartholomew's Church, Salford, on 28th December, his parents’ residence 20 Dalton Street, and his father’s occupation listed as labourer. 


In 1901 the family is still living at 20 Dalton Street, Salford.
His father is 39, a chemical works labourer, his mother is 33, stepsister Edith is 15, Elizabeth 11, and Amelia 5.  James is 2 and his brother David is three months old.  They have two boarders, Harriett Lees, 38, and Maud Lees, 12.

1911 finds them at 1 Croyden Street, Salford, with three children at home. His father is 50, still a labourer in a chemical works, his mother is 44, James is 12 and David 10, stepsister Amelia is aged 15, and is employed as a sewing machinist.

James enlisted in Liverpool, travelling outside of Manchester possibly because he was underage and did not have parental permission to join up. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for 14 months, enlisting in about January 1917, after he turned 18 years old. 

He was serving with the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 406047 when he was killed in action on the 28^th March, 1918, aged 19, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident. 

James has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

He was initially declared Missing 21st - 28th  March 1918.  His mother contacted the International Red Cross in hopes that he had been taken prisoner but was notified on 6th June 1918 that they held no records.  A further enquiry received the same response on 17th July. 

His death was later presumed, for official purposes, to have occurred on 28th March 1918.

Manchester Evening News 18th May 1918(reported as "Ray")

MISSING

Pte J. Ray, (406047), King's Liverpool Regiment, missing since March 21. Mrs Ray: 1 Croyden St, Salford.

His father received James’ Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £6. The pension card (showing 26th K.L.R.) in the name of his mother appears to show that a war pension was refused but later granted, amount not specified. 

His mother Harriet died in 1931 and his father David appears to have died in 1933, aged 72.

Sadly, James has not been found on any memorials.

We currently have no further information on James Kay, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.