Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

James Kay was born around 1883 in Glasgow.  He married Rosina Ellen Stacey on 18 April 1907, and lived in Chiswick London. In 1911, James was a chauffeur of licensed cars and lived at 2 Caroline Place, Richmond with his wife and two daughters.  They had a further five children, including twin sons born prematurely in May 1918, who died within the week.

He enlisted on 8 November 1915, aged 32, and was posted to the Army Service Corps Motor Transport 486 Company at the beginning of December.  On 14 June 1916, James embarked from Folkestone on ’SS Arundel’ for the British Expeditionary Force in France joining the 11^th Heavy Artillery Motor Transport 97^th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery.  James passed through Peterborough East Station on 15 November 1916 and wrote in the visitors’ book “Had an enjoyable hour at
the rest room, while waiting for the train”.

Whilst in France James served with the 1st Base Motor Transport Depot in Rouen, the No.1 Water Tank Company, 61st and 64th Auxiliary (Petrol) Company.  He had three spells in hospital, and on 22 January 1918, was transferred to the Southern General Hospital in Dudley, Birmingham for treatment for bronchitis and emphysema.  From 9 February to 1 March 1918, he was at the Convalescent Hospital at Wearde Camp, Saltash, Cornwall, before returning to duty.  However, following two weeks leave he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Cowley Barracks, Oxford where he remained until May, following this hospitalisation he was discharged for six months.

James was finally discharged from the Army on 13 October 1918 as ‘No longer fit for active war service’ due to bronchitis which he had suffered with since childhood and was aggravated by his war service. He was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge.

Please get in touch if you can tell us more about James.