Name
Frank William Day
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/04/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
41050
Essex Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ATHIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
E. 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Son of Frank Edward and Flora Day, of East Terrace, Drury Lane, Melbourn, Royston, Herts (Melbourn is actually in Cambridgeshire). His was born in 1897and his home was in Melbourn, but he had lived in Hitchin for four years with his aunt at 49, Lancaster Road, Hitchin and was resident there when he enlisted in June 1916. Before being called up he was employed by the Home and Colonial Stores in Hitchin.
In 1901 the family were living at Gilbey’s Row, Melbourn, Cambs.x, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Frank (30) and Flora (26), with Frank (senior) working as a domestic groom. Their children were: Alice (5), Frank (3) and Hilda Minnie (1).
By 1911 the family were living at East Terrace, Drury Lane, Melbourn, Cambs. Present were both parents, Frank (senior) now working as a horse keeper on farm. The census recorded they had been married for 15 years with 8 children all living. All the children listed above were present except Alice. Frank William Day was now 13 and working as a grocer’s assistant. New siblings were now listed: Doris Mabel (6), Gladys Muriel (4) and Grace Annie (1).
Officially Frank was recorded as born in Birth place Melbourn, Cambs and living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
He was posted to the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment and was allocated the Regimental Number 41050. He went to France in October 1916 and was killed in action in France by a sniper's bullet He had previously served as No. 29947 with the Bedfordshire Regiment
The 2nd Battalion was part of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Division in the 3rd Army. On the day of Frank's death, the Battalion was in an afternoon advance of about three and a half miles from the area of St. Laurent Blagny to the northern outskirts of Athies and on to the area between Hyderabad Redoubt and Fampoux. A day of violent attacks and severe casualties on the wire from shells and machine-guns.
He is buried in Grave E17 in the Athies Communal Cemetery Extension in France.
Additional Information
After his death £1 14s 2d was authorised to go to his father on 11 September 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to him/her on 11 November 1919.
His pension cards record that the Rev M de Conrey made an application on behalf of Frank’s mother. She was then recorded as his dependant, living at 5 East Terrace, Melbourn, Cambs. She was awarded a pension of 5s a week from 6 November 1918.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
