Published in Windlesora 30 (2014)
© WLHG
The demise of Caleys started with the Great War. Captain Hugh William Caley, the only son of Mr and Mrs Hugh Caley, and destined to take over the store, joined the Army Service Corps in July 1916. He had trained as a chartered accountant, had worked in Paris and Brussels, and had married a French girl.
In July 1918 he was injured and sent home from the front for an operation, which was successful; but just before his discharge he was found to be suffering from [nephritis], kidney failure which took a very rapid course, and he died at Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Milbank, on Monday 16th September.
The funeral service was held at the Parish Church, where the whole of Messrs Caleys’ staff assembled. He is buried at Windsor Cemetery. His death led to the sale of Caleys to Selfridges after 100 years as a family business, and the store was finally closed by John Lewis, the last owner, in 2006.
Brigitte Mitchell
Acknowledgements
Source: Windsor and Eton Express newspaper files
Windsor Local History Group 