26 March 2018
Casualties of Spring 1918: Private Hedley Kay
Today marks 100 years since Private Hedley Kay died during the German Spring Offensive. At just 20 years old he was a battle hardened veteran having fought in almost every British engagement of the First World War.
1st/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Died: 26 March 1918
Commemorated in: Beaumetz-les-Cambrai Military Cemetery No.1
Hedley Kay was born on 25 March 1897, in Barton-on-Irwell, Lancashire, to James and May Kay — the second youngest of five children. He attended Eccles Wesleyan Chapel and Sunday School, later working for the Cooperative Wholesale Society (the Co-op) in Manchester.
Hedley enlisted in the British Army in January 1915, with the Gordon Highlanders. He was posted to the 1st/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, which formed part of the 51st (Highland) Division. After training in Britain in May 1915, the Highland Division was sent to France, before moving north into Belgium to help stabilise the British Line after the German advances during the Second Battle of Ypres. In 1916 the Highland Division fought on the Somme, and in 1917 saw action during the Battle of Arras, the Third Battle of Ypres and the Battle of Cambrai.
In March 1918, Hedley and his battalion were holding positions east of Bapaume near the village of Boursies. They knew an attack was imminent, however on the night of 19/20 March they were relieved from the frontline and spent 20 March “at bath” and cleaning kit.
In the early hours of 21 March the German artillery began a bombardment and five hours later the German infantry attacked. The 1st/7th Gordons were woken by the German guns. They were ordered to prepare to re-enter the line at a moment’s notice and the majority of the battalion moved up to support trenches along the Beaumetz-Morchies line. The 1st/7th Gordons managed to hold this position until 23 March when they were ordered to withdraw. Over the next three days the battalion was involved in an exhausting fighting retreat.
At some point between the battalion going into action on 22 and 26 March, Hedley was killed - his death was recorded for official purposes as 26 March. Hedley, along with other British and German casualties, was buried sometime after the fighting by German troops in what was known to them as No.9 Military Cemetery. This later became CWGC Beaumetz-les-Cambrai Military Cemetery No.1. Hedley is just one of more than 480 men of the 1st/7th Gordons who were reported killed, wounded or missing during March 1918.