Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sergeant (Master Cook) J. Hay, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, late Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Powerful during the Boer War, and was awarded the M.S.M. in the Great War

1914-15 Star (7704 Cpl. J. Hay. K.O. Sco: Bord:); British War and Victory Medals (7704 Sjt. J. Hay. K.O. Sco. Bord.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (7704 Sjt. J. Hay. 8/K/O/ Sco: Bord:) edge bruise to last, gilding rubbed on VM in parts, contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £160-200

M.S.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919:
‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the Armies in France and Flanders.’

James Hay attested for the King’s Own Scottish Borderers at Hawick, and ‘was a most important man in the battalion; for it must be remembered that an army marches on its stomach; and, as our marching was ever good, the cooking must have been good also. A man of vast and varied experience from Hawick to China, he had previously been in the Navy, had served with the gun’s crew of H.M.S. Powerful during he South African War, and wore the ribands for that campaign.
The face of this old tar told a story of hard and rough times; of storms, and of many other things with which he had come into contact. Jimmy never failed to let it be known that cooking was a dry job. Nevertheless, he did his work well; kept the cooks up to the mark; and was most conscientious in keeping the travelling kitchens irreproachably clean. The army cookery expert, after an inspection of the culinary department of the battalion, gave the following report: “The cooking arrangements of this battalion are excellent. The cook-house is kept scrupulously clean; care being taken to ensure the food being well cooked and varied.” On one occasion, just after leaving the Somme, General Mathieson brought some cooks of another unit to note the cleanliness of, and take an example by, the kitchens of the 7/8th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers. As those cooks, in consequence, were thirsting for his blood, our Master Cook voluntarily confined himself to camp for several days afterwards.
Sergeant Hay had served continuously with the Regiment since the formation of the 8th Battalion, not only as Master Cook, but in other capacities. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for good work, and had well deserved it.’ (History of the 7/8th King’s Own Scottish Borderers refers).

Hay served with the 8th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers during the Great War on the Western Front from 10 July 1915, and was demobilised on 15 May 1919.