Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
Lance Corporal James Kay, born in Manchester UK, had served for 12 years in Border Regiment, Carlisle UK. He was a veteran of the Boer War and had been an apprentice bootmaker before migrating to Australia. A labourer, Kay lived with his wife Mary in Pine Road, Auburn, and was a member of the St Philip’s Anglican Church.
Kay, 37, enlisted at RAS Showgrounds on 19 July 1916 and embarked on the Port Nicholson on 8 November of that year, arriving in Devonport UK on 10 January 1917. On 23 March 1917, Kay crossed to France and was taken on strength of the 4th Battalion. He served in that unit for six months, less two months in military hospitals suffering myocarditis and dropsy.
On 6 October 1917, Kay received a gunshot wound to the chest and face and was taken back to the Colchester Military Hospital in the UK, where he spent six months recovering.
Kay returned to his battalion in the 1st Australian Division on 25 April 1918 and served on until he was killed in action on 23 August 1918, during the Australian advance up the Somme valley: ‘Near Chugnes 23/8/18 in an advance on a ridge. He was shot thro’ the head by a bullet from an MG’.
Kay is buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, the military cemetery in France containing the highest number of Australians (910 out of 1499 burials are Australian). Two other Auburn Memorial men, Private Wallace Sales and Private Harold Stevens, are also buried in Heath Cemetery.
James Kay is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- St Philip’s Anglican Church Auburn First World War Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
