Signalman Henry Kane (D/JX 165720) served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Born on 19th May 1897, he was the son of William Henry Kane and Margaret "Maggie" Kane (née McKee) of Joseph Street, Portadown, Co. Armagh. He was the husband of Sarah Kane of 26 Railway Street, Portadown, Co. Armagh.
Known as Harry, the Portadown-born Signalman served in both The Great War and the Second World War, first enlisting in 1913 aged 15 years old. He continued to serve after sustaining wounds off the coast of Belgium on H.M.S. Rinaldo in October 1914. During this time, he received a visit in hospital from the Princess Royal. In 1916, he took part in the Battle of Jutland on H.M.S. Attack. Towards the end of The Great War, his vessel H.M.S. Phoenix took a hit from a U-Boat in 1918.
In the interwar period, Kane served as Chairman of the Edenderry Arch Committee in Portadown, Co. Armagh. In 1919, he sailed on H.M.S. Vanoc supporting the Baltic States in the Russian Civil War. He left the Royal Navy in 1920 spending the next 19 years on land apart from one week a year spent with the Royal Fleet Reserve. At this time, he worked for the Portadown Gaslight Company.
During this time, Harry Kane was a popular footballer in the Co. Armagh town. He played centre-half for Edenderry Arrows Football Club and was a trainer at Portadown Football Club for the 1926-1927 season. He also found time to be a member of Portadown British Legion, Portadown Fire Brigade, and the Portadown Homing Pigeon Society. He was a member of Edenderry Temperance and Benefit LOL No. 322 and Allen’s Chosen Few RBP No. 25.
U-28 sank Q-Ship HMS Prunella (formerly HMS Cape Howe) on 21st June 1940. On board was Signalman Henry "Harry" Kane of Portadown, Co. Armagh. Copyright unknown.
Second World War Service
The Royal Navy recalled Signalman Kane in July 1939. He once again met with royalty when King George VI inspected the crew on aircraft carrier H.M.S. Courageous.
Throughout the Second World War, Harry Kane served on destroyers before joining the crew of the Q-Ship H.M.S. Prunella (formerly Cape Howe). A Q-Ship was a heavily armed merchant vessel with concealed weaponry designed to lure in U-Boats.
Harry died on 21st June 1940 aged 43 years old when the ship went down after an attack by U-28. He spent several days on a lifeboat awaiting rescue.
After Kane’s death, Commodore Critchley wrote to his widow Sarah Kane paying tribute to the Portadown man. He stated that Harry helped maintain the high traditions of the Royal Navy.
Another story came to light after Kane’s death. It surrounded an engraved watch received during his time as Chairman of the Edenderry Arch Committee. The Committee presented Kane with the watch on his recall and service on H.M.S. Eclipse in 1939. While on the lifeboat in 1940, Kane realised he would not make it home and gave the watch to Seaman Robert N. Ayre of Belfast. Harry asked that the watch be returned to his wife at home. Seaman Ayre also lost his life during the war but his wife kept the promise.
During the Belfast Blitz in April 1941, Mrs. Ayre left her home as part of a mass evacuation of her area of the city and came to live in Portadown, Co. Armagh. She lived for a time with Mrs. Jackson of Meadow Lane, Portadown, Co. Armagh. On hearing the story of the watch, Mrs. Jackson recognised it as Harry’s and the promise made by Seaman Ayre was kept.
Remembering Harry Kane
Harry Kane and Sarah Kane had a son Corporal James Henry Kane who served in the Royal Air Force. Two of Harry’s brothers, James Kane and David Kane also served. James Kane was in the Royal Marine Police and also saw action in The Great War. David Kane was with 3/12th Searchlight Regiment during the evacuation of Dunkirk.
After the Second World War, the Edenderry Arch Committee in Portadown, Co. Armagh dedicated a new arch to Signalman Kane. Volunteer labourers constructed the new arch in the town foundry. The impressive arch comprised 1,372 pieces held together by over 5,000 welds and 2,000 bolts. On 11th July 1951, Harry’s widow Mrs. Sarah Kane unveiled the arch and it has stood in the Edenderry part of the town each July since.
Henry Kane has no known grave. His name is on Panel 39, Column 2 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon. His name is also on the Kane family plot in Seagoe Cemetery, Portadown, Co. Armagh.