Name
Arthur George Day (*1)
17 April 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/12/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
120303
Royal Garrison Artillery
No. 1 Depot
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CODICOTE (ST. GILES) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
St Giles Church Memorial, Codicote, Peace Memorial Hall Memorial, Codicote, Union Church Memorial, Peace Memorial Hall, Codicote, Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans
Pre War
Arthur George Day was born in Codicote on 17 April 1894 and baptised at St Giles, Codicote, on 24 June 1894, only son of Arthur George and Laura Sarah Day (nee Cooper) and had a younger sister Emma.
He was educated at the National School in Codicote and on the 1901 Census the family were living at High Street, Codicote, where his father was working as a horsekeeper on a farm. By 1911 they had moved to New Town, Codicote and Arthur was working as farm labourer. He gave his occupation as cowman on enlistment.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 7 October 1916 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. After initial training in Nottingham for 4 months he was posted to Donegal, Ireland, for 2 months. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 1917, where he saw much fighting, taking part in engagements at Wiencourt, Poppy, Hancourt, Messines Ridge and Ypres.
Arthur was wounded in the left thigh at Harcourt on 4 October 1918 and invalided back to the UK, being admitted to hospital in Scotland, then spent several weeks shuttling between Codicote, Scotland and Catterick waiting for demobilisation. He became ill and was admitted to the Catterick Military Hospital, Yorkshire on 23 December 1918 where he died from lobar pneumonia on 26 December 1918. He is buried in Codicote (St Giles) Churchyard, Hertfordshire.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £12 10s and pay owing of 1s 3d. She also received a pension of five shillings a week.
His father was serving as Private 295447 in D Platoon of the 70 Labour Corps.
*1 The St Albans Cathedral Diocese records suggest a connection to Codicote for a man named Arthur James Day who was recorded as a Private in the Royal Regiment of Artillery. We have not identified a man with this name however, this man Arthur George Day who was a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. We think that he is likely to be the man commemorated in the Diocese records.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, June Colegrove, Roll-of-Honour.com
