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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 252

(x) Five: British Constable W. Kay, Palestine Police

General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Palestine 1945-48 (3993. B. Const. W. Kay. Pal. Police.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, official correction to number of first, second clasp with unofficial rivets, very fine and better (5)

William Kay was born on 13 March 1920 at East Newport, and lived at 14 Queen Street, Newport, Scotland. Having been part of the Palestine Police, he served as a Private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the Second World War and was held as a prisoner-of-war at Stalag 344, Lambsdorf, Poland. Repatriated at the end of hostilities, Kay served as a reservist before re-enlisting with the Palestine Police Force from 13 November 1946-9 April 1948.

His service was somewhat chequered, Kay initially being called to explain his actions having failed to report as a reservist for two consecutive quarters in 1946. He was fined 7 day's pay for losing his certificate of appointment with the Police and later fined 14 days pay on two charges of neglecting to obey depot standing orders, having left the isolation hospital in Jerusalem and proceeded out on recreation. On 26 September 1947 he failed to appear at parade and was fined 1 day's pay, and 2 days later failed to appear for duty at the Central Police Station for 8 hours.

The force having disbanded, Kay faced a short period of unemployment before applying for a position at H.M. Prison, Durham. In a confidential report given on 3 April 1948 by the Palestine Police Force, the Superintendent did not hold back his opinions:

'Unreliable, untidy, lazy, requires constant supervision.'

In 1975 his sister Nancy attempted to trace her brother, nothing having been heard of him by the family for a considerable time. The trail had gone cold and little is known of Kay's further life; sold with copied service and medical records.


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Sold for
£160

Starting price
£70