Orders, Decorations and Medals

Eight: Brigadier-General Sir William Kay, Bart., C.M.G., D.S.O., King's Royal Rifle Corps, amongst the first to win the D.S.O. in 1914 and later killed in action

ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE, C.M.G., silver gilt and enamel neck badge; DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER, G.V.R.; EAST AND WEST AFRICA 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Sierra Leone 1898-99 (Lt., K.R.R.C.); QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 4 clasps, CC., O.F.S., L.N., Belf. (Capt.); KING'S SOUTH AFRICA, 2 clasps, S.A.1901, S.A.1902; 1914 MONS STAR (Capt.); BRITISH WAR and VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. (Brig. Gen. Sir, Bt.), first three campaign medals mounted for wear, nearly extremely fine (8)

D.S.O., London Gazette, 9 November, 1914
'William Algernon Kay, Major, 2nd Battn. King's Royal Rifle Corps. He made a personal reconnaissance of great value on 1 Oct., reaching a point within 100 yards of the enemy's outposts.’

William Algernon Ireland Kay was killed in action on 4 October, 1918, by a gas shell near St. Quentin, in the zenith of his success. He had entered the army in 1896 with the 1st Battalion, K.R.R.C. and served in the operations in Sierra Leone, attached to the West African Regiment, 1898-9. He served in South Africa with the 1st K.R.R.C. and was present at the actions at Laing's Nek, Belfast and Lydenburg. He was promoted Captain in 1901 and served as Adjutant, Volunteers, 1906-8, and Terrirorials, 1908-9. During the First World War he earned considerable distinction, being promoted Brevet Lieut-Colonel in 1916, awarded the C.M.G. and D.S.O. and was six times mentioned in despatches. He went to France with the first Expeditionary Force on the staff of Sir John French, and was badly wounded in October of that year. On recovering he served for a year and a half on the staff of the 24th Division in 1916-17, under General Sir John Capper, who held the highest opinion of his abilities. In March, 1918, he was appointed to the Command of a Brigade, but, being again wounded, he was sent to England and in the following May returned to France to command the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 1st Division. It was in this capacity that he was so tragically killed in action.