Name
Charles Amos Day
27 May 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266029
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 28 and 29
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford,
Shenley War Memorial
Pre War
Charles Amos Day was born on 27 May 1896 at Ridge Hill, Shenley, the youngest son of Amos and Ann (Annie) Day. He was baptised at St Margaret's Church, Ridge, nr Shenley, Hertfordshire on 19 August 1900 (at the age of 4), prior to to his attendance at Shenley School.
On the 1901 Census the family were living in Ridge Hill Cottages, Shenley where his father was working as a gardener's help (domestic). They remained in Ridge Hill in 1911 at which time, 14 year old Charles was working as a house boy (at Shenley Lodge).
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted on 30 November 1914 in Hertford, initially joining the Hertfordshire Regiment and later being transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was sent for training at Bury St Edmunds in February 1915 and from there to Norwich and Newmarket. On 9 July he left Southampton on his way to France, joining the battalion near Cuinchy a few days later.
Charles was wounded in 1917 and at the beginning of August was returned to England on HMHS Essequibo, spending two weeks recovering from a gunshot wound to his right thigh at the Princess Club Hospital, Bermondsey. Once discharged he was sent to Crowborough Army Camp in Sussex.
On 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive, Charles was reported missing but it was several months before it was confirmed that he was presumed killed. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £19 and pay owing of £1 13s 3s.
Pension cards exist in respect of his mother as dependant, but give no indication of the amount of pension received, if any.
N.B. Some official records exist with similar or possibly mis-transcribed service numbers 266029 and 266209, but the information from the shenleyww1 website is very detailed with supporting personal information and documentation and is taken as the basis for the Herts at War information shown here.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, shenleyww1.wordpress.com
