Manitoba's WWI Fallen: Harry Kaye of Winnipeg

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, I am working on a series of blog posts and radio shows that will look at some of the Manitobans who died in action. For more about this project and links to other posts, follow this link.

Harry Lewis Kaye was one of four children of  Maude Ethel and George Kaye of 511 Walker Avenue, Winnipeg. Harry and his brother George were promising baseball pitchers in the city's junior amateur league.

At around the age of 15 Harry left school and went to work as a clerk at the Bank of Dominion headquarters in downtown Winnipeg. When he enlisted on February 23, 1916 at the age of 17, he listed his occupation and "dry goods clerk", so he likely was not working in the banking hall or office areas.

Kaye was with the 43rd Battalion when he was killed in action on August 8, 1918 at the age of 20. His Certificate of Death notes: "While in the assembly trench at Hourges, prior to an attack on enemy positions, he was hit in several parts of the body by shrapnel from an enemy shell, death being instantaneous.”

He is buried in Hourges Orchard Cemetery, Domart-sur-la-luce, Somme France.

A few days later, Tim Ching, the Tribune's sports editor, wrote in his column: "Among the many Winnipegggers who have fallen in the recent drive on the Huns was Harry Kaye…. The death of this young hero caused a wave of regret over the Fort Rouge district where he was well known. Harry became the idol of Fort Rouge fans while pitching their baseball team to many honours."

Related:
Attestation Papers
Canadian Virtual War Memorial entry