The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Five: Private A. T. Kaye, 1st Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later Sergeant, 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Territorial Force), who was wounded during the Boer War at Britstown, 6 March 1900; a recipient of the 56th Division Card for distinguished conduct and Mentioned in Despatches during the Great War, he died on the Western Front on 20 October 1917

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Diamond Hill (364 Bugr. A. T. Kaye, C.I.V.); 1914-15 Star (20. Sgt. A. Kaye. Middx. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (20 Sjt. A. Kaye. Midd’x R.) in card envelopes of issue; Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (2603 L.Sjt: T. A. [sic] Kaye, 1/V.B. Middx: Regt.); Memorial Plaque (Alfred Thomas Kaye) in card envelope with Buckingham Palace enclosure; Memorial Scroll (Serjt. Alfred Thomas Kaye, Middlesex Regt.) first and fifth good very fine, the Great War awards extremely fine (6) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Arthur Thomas Kaye was born in Marylebone, London in 1873. An ironmonger by occupation, he joined the Highgate detachment of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and served as a Bugler in South Africa with the Infantry Battalion of the City of London Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War. Kaye’s small stature and over sized uniform was the subject of some amusement to his comrades and fellow travellers, whose number included Rudyard Kipling, on the boat to South Africa, as related in a letter printed in a regimental journal:
‘I wish you could have seen Bugler Kaye in his uniform before it was altered. You know on the day we were enrolled we were each given a paper to fill up, with certain measurements of ourselves, to post to the authorities. Well, Kaye (like most of us) got a bit “jovial monk” with a few friends of his, and he got them to measure him. He forgot, however, to remove his top hat and overcoat, and these little things threw his height and chest and waist measurements out a bit. The result was simply too funny for words. They have had them altered now, which I think is a shame, as they used to amuse us so. Rudyard Kipling came out on the same boat with us. He used to come down every day and have a look at Kaye, and go away and chuckle. I believe he is going to write a poem about those trousers.’

Kaye was wounded in the leg by shell burst at Britstown on 6 March 1900, one of seven men of the C.I.V. to be wounded during this action. The incident was described by Private C. E. Saunders in a letter published in the City Press on 7 April 1900; on this occasion, Bugler Kaye’s modest stature saved his life:
‘Fortunately for us they (the enemy) directed most of their shots at our artillery, but the few they sent at us burst unpleasantly close over our heads. A bullet from one of these hit poor old Kaye in the leg, and it seemed an awful time before the stretcher came up to take him back to the ambulance wagon, which had halted level with the artillery miles back. Several of our men, including Captain Bailey, worked like Trojans at the stretcher, and at one time it seemed doubtful if he (Kaye) would be got away in time, as by this time we had had the order to retire, and if he had been a heavier man they could not possibly have managed it.’

Kaye was one of six men entertained upon their return from South Africa by the Highgate detachment of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. He was discharged from the C.I.V., in the rank of Drummer, on 30 November 1900.

Kaye subsequently served during the Great War with the 1/7th Middlesex Regiment in France from 12 March 1915 as Sergeant Drummer and was awarded the 56th (London) Division Card for distinguished conduct in the field, dated 14 March 1917. The card (with lot) was transmitted to Kaye with a letter (with lot) written by R.S.M. W. Burt, D.C.M., dated 6 April 1917, revealing that Kaye had been injured or taken ill sometime prior. He died on active service on the Western Front on 20 October 1917 and was posthumously Mentioned in Field Marshal Haig’s Despatch of 7 November 1917 (London Gazette 21 December 1917).

Sold together with a silver topped C.I.V. swagger stick with silver band inscribed ‘Drumr. A. T. Kaye C.I.V.’; a copper match box with inscription ‘Bugler A. T. Kaye 3rd Mx. R.V.’; the recipient’s Freedom of the City of London parchment certificate, this mounted in a glazed display frame; 56th (London) Division Card for distinguished conduct in the field, signed by Major-General Hull together with letter from Regimental Sergeant Major W. Burt, D.C.M., dated 6 April 1917 with envelope addressed to 103 Convalescent Camp A.P.O. S.13; Mention in Despatches Certificate with covering letter and envelope; hand written letter on C.I.V. letter headed paper, dated 13th March 1900, from Lt-Col. C. G. Boxall, Depot Commandant, informing the recipient’s father that his son had been wounded in action near Britstown; C.I.V. Proceedings on Discharge document with accompanying Form B.128 and Army Form B.2077, all with hand-written entries, together with envelope and transmittal slip; and various other documents, letters, ephemera, and copied research, including photograph of the 1st V.B. Middlesex Regiment detachment, C.I.V. (Kaye identified).