Kayes in two World Wars
During the First World War, Kayes workshop staff were called on often to help the war effort. This picture (from the Hull Daily Mail?) shows bayonets being sharpened - 1700 sharpened during the night of August 5th, 1914. The man with the moustache holding a bayonet is John Ringrose, William Henry's step-brother, who helped run the business.
Another photo, which I have not managed to trace, but which used to hang in my father's office, shows a troop of the East Yorkshire Cavalry Regiment waiting on horseback outside the shop as their swords were being sharpened, before riding down to the Hull docks to be shipped off to the killing fields of Flanders
Another photo, which I have not managed to trace, but which used to hang in my father's office, shows a troop of the East Yorkshire Cavalry Regiment waiting on horseback outside the shop as their swords were being sharpened, before riding down to the Hull docks to be shipped off to the killing fields of Flanders
During WW II, the shop in Bond Street suffered a direct hit from a German bomb, with roof and windows destroyed (see photo).
New premises were acquired down the road, at 29 - 31 George Street. The original shop was demolished, and, after the War, was replaced by a Co-op superstore. The proximity of the Hull Brewery Company, across the narrow street behind the workshop at the back of 29 George Street, no doubt helped to ease the move into the new premises....
New premises were acquired down the road, at 29 - 31 George Street. The original shop was demolished, and, after the War, was replaced by a Co-op superstore. The proximity of the Hull Brewery Company, across the narrow street behind the workshop at the back of 29 George Street, no doubt helped to ease the move into the new premises....