A/B GUNNER JAMES KAY

David Kay wrote:-

My father James Kay, was born in Bury, Lancashire England, on the 21st September 1923.  He joined the Royal Navy ( serial number-JX 393432 ) on the 26th October,1942 as a seaman. He became a A / B Gunner......he served on H.M.S Glendower......
H.M.S.Drake.......H.M.S.Rosneath....H.M.S.Black Prince.  He was awarded the Burma Star with Pacific clasp, the 1939-45 medal, the 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star with France and Germany clasp and the Italy Star.  Also he has a 20 year good conduct and 20 years long service medal from the Royal Australian Naval Dockyard Police. I also am aware that my father is entitled to a Certificate Of Appreciation for the Normandy invasion which I am looking into, but getting nowhere. The certificate is issued by the French Government. Also he is entitled to 2 medals from the Russian Government for his involvement with the R.N. during the Russian / Arctic convoy.

During my fathers time on the Black Prince, he was involved in the Russian convoys, and Normandy landings. The landings at Normandy on the 6th June 1944,were called "UTAH and "OMAHA". 

My father was wounded in 1944, when one of the ships gun turrets was severely damaged, which my father got a bit of shrapnel his his right shoulder, but he was quite o.k. 

He came to Sydney, Australia with H.M.S. Black Prince in 1946 (Click here to see photograph of crew marching in Sydney).

He left the R.N.2nd July 1946,and settled here in Sydney. He worked at I.X.L.Jam factory from 1946 until 1952. In 1952,my father joined the Royal Australian Naval Dockyard Police, here he done 20 years service. 

When he left the R.A.N. Dockyard Police in 1972,he worked for a worldwide telephone company called Standard Telephone Cables (S.T.C. which is now called Alcatel ). He was still employed by S.T.C. the day he died with a short battle of cancer. My father passed away 21st May1988. At S.T.C.he was 2nd in charge of the Security unit.

Recently, I have been in touch with one fellow that served on the H.M.S. Black Prince, who also knew my father well.  His name is Mr.Arthur Troutt,who also lives in Sydney, Australia, who has helped me make contact to the proper authorities in regards to receiving my father's DIPLOMA OF HONOUR CERTIFICATE....NORMANDY LANDINGS., and also he is helping me receive 2 medals for his service with the Russian Convoys. I would like to also thank the H.M.S.Black Prince Association, in contacting former crew members of the Black Prince,and also Mr.Bill Edge,for making me an Associate Member of the H.M.S. Black Prince Association.

If anyone would like to speak to me about my father, I can be contacted on David.Kay@insearch.edu.au