CAPTAIN H.G. KAYE, 6TH BATTALION BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT AND 1ST BATTALION HERTFORDSHIRE REG

CAPTAIN H.G. KAYE, 6TH BATTALION BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT AND 1ST BATTALION HERTFORDSHIRE REGIMENT, LATE PRIVATE, 1/28TH (ARTISTS RIFLES) BATTALION, LONDON REGIMENT, WOUNDED IN ACTION IN FRANCE IN MAY 1917 WHILST SERVING WITH THE 6TH BEDFORDSHIRES. Three: 1914-15 Star (officially impressed: 2918 PTE. H.G. KAYE. 28 – LOND. R.) British War and Victory Medals (both officially impressed: CAPT. H.G. KAYE). Generally Almost Extremely Fine to Extremely Fine.

Group accompanied by extract 1911 census, 10 pages copied service papers from Captain Kaye’s Officer’s Papers file and WW1 Medal Index card.

Hugh Gordon Kaye, born Woodford, Essex, is recorded in the 1911 census as a 30 year old married insurance broker (shipping) living in Woodford with his parents and two servants, his father, Henry Edward Kaye, being recorded in the census return as an employer, the Manager and Secretary of a public company. Kaye enlisted into the 1/28th Battalion London Regiment on 10/11/1914, was immediately embodied and saw active service during WW1 in France and Flanders, entering that theatre of operations on 14/2/1915.

The 1/28th Battalion London Regiment was already in France by 14/2/1915, having landed at Boulogne as a battalion on 28/10/1914. Based initially at Bailieul, it was briefly employed repairing trenches. On 26/11/1914 the battalion converted to an Officer Training Corps, based initially at Balieul and from 2/4/1915 at St Omer, with the various companies of the battalion spening the first two weeks of December 1914 in the front line trenches as part of their officer training.

Kaye was promoted Lance Corporal, 19/5/1915, Corporal, 9/4/1916, commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, 30/9/1916, and promoted Lieutenant, 19/3/1918. Captain Kaye was wounded in action on 25/5/1917 whilst serving with the 6th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and was invalided on 3/6/1917, suffering from multiple injuries, a subsequent Medical Board noting that Kaye was “struck by fragment of a bomb and received multiple wounds, as follows: (1) a fragment of metal penetrated right upper lip causing fracture of rt. superior maxilla and floor of orbit and damage to teeth necessitating extractions. Xray shows metallic fragment behind superior maxilla.There is limitation of movement in opening jaw and some disfigurement from scarred upper lip. (2) a contused wound of right second finger (3) numerous small wounds on right knee, right ankle and left thigh..” After recovering from his wounds, Captain Kaye transferred to the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, 21/5/1918, returned to active service in France, and was promoted Acting Captain whilst commanding a company, 27/5/1918. Captain Kaye was demobilised on 20/2/1919.

Kaye was wounded in action as a result of artillery fire on what was otherwise a quite day for his battalion, the War Diary of the 6th Bedfordshire Regiment recording that, on 25/5/1917 “Hostile artillery active all day, especially towards evening.Very quiet in the front line. Considerable work done in the way of salvage and improvement of trenches.”