Extended height: 7cm (2.7in)
Provenance: Brigadier J.W. Kaye, RA, late Somaliland Camel Corps
Silver plate. Tapered cup with spreading foot, comprising of three collapsible concentric sections with gilt washed interior, and hinged handle. The body engraved JWK for Brigadier James William Kaye. Complete with brown morocco leather case.
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Brigadier James William Kaye (1899-1990) was educated at Bedford School and the RMA Woolwich. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in September 1918 and saw action on the Western Front. Between the wars he served with the King’s African Rifles and the camel corps in British Somaliland. In 1936 he went to India as a mountain gunner and was later attached to the Gwalior State Forces. In March 1942 he took command of 28th Mountain Regiment during the Japanese invasion of Burma. The regiment’s two batteries had lost all their guns in the Battle of Sittang Bridge and was forced to cross the river by any means after the early destruction of the bridge. Kaye received orders to collect new guns at Schwebo and retreated with his men on an Irrawaddy Flotilla Company launch packed with fleeing troops and civilians. By the end of March 15th Mountain Battery was at Prome where it refitted with seven 77mm Skoda guns, while 28th Mountain Battery fought as infantry and acquired a single 3.7-inch howitzer. Both of Kaye’s batteries engaged the Japanese invaders soon after with the 15th being ordered to destroy its guns at Ue-U on 5 May 1942. 28th Mountain Battery took part in a successful rearguard action at Shwegyin on 10 May and eventually succeeded in getting the howitzer to Imphal, India in an ambulance. Kaye was later mentioned in despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma, gazetted 19 July 1945.