William Henry Kay
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- Military History
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William Henry Kay was born in 1891 at Newark and was the son of Walter a joiner and Elizabeth Ann Kay nee Joynes of 4 Massey Street, Newark. His father Walter was born in 1868 at Newark and his mother Elizabeth Ann Joynes was born in 1867 also at Newark, they were married in 1890 at Newark, they went on to have 11 children, sadly two were to die in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, William Henry b1891, Robert b1893, Joseph b1896, Annie Elizabeth b1898, Nellie b1900, Walter b1902, Ada b1903, Herbert b1906 and Kathleen b1910. In the 1911 census the family are living at 5 Mount Lane, Appleton Gate, Newark and are shown as Walter Kay 43 yrs a joiner, he is living with his wife Elizabeth Ann 44 yrs and their children, Robert 18 yrs an apprentice slater, Joseph 15 yrs an assistant tailor, Annie Elizabeth 13 yrs a scholar, Nellie 11 yrs a scholar, Walter 9 yrs a scholar, Ada 8 yrs a scholar, Herbert 5 yrs a scholar and Kathleen 1 year of age. William Henry has not yet been traced on the 1911 census. William Henry married his wife Evelyn Haythorn (born 7th December 1893 ) on 15th June 1914 at Christ Church, Newark, they went on to have 2 sons William Eric born 6th October 1914 and Walter Henry born 28th June 1917 they lived at 2 Wilcox Yard, Rycroft Street, Grantham. Commencing 26th November 1917 his widow was awarded a pension of 22 shillings and 11 pence a week
Private William Henry Kay enlisted on 7th June 1916 at Grantham, he initially served with the service number 25204 with the 3/4th Lincolnshire Regiment and landed in France on 26th September 1916 He was serving with the 18th battalion West Yorkshire Regiment when he was killed in action on 29th April 1917. Having no known graves his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Article published in The Grantham Journal on 2nd June 1917: Pte. W. H. Kay, of Grantham : The sad news of the death in action of Pte. W. H. Kay, was conveyed to his wife, who lives at 2 Wilcox Yard, Rycroft Street, in a letter from a lieutenant at the front. The writer states: "I very much regret to inform you that your husband was killed on the night of April 29th, while going up to the trenches. He was badly wounded about the head and shoulder, but was killed instantly. After relieving the Regiment in the trenches, I sent a party back to bury him, but he had already been taken away by the R.A.M.C. to be buried behind the line. All the N.C.O.'s and men in the platoon join with me in offering you our deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement." Pte. Kay joined the West Yorks Regiment on June 7th 1916, and proceeded abroad on September 26th.
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