Name
Ernest William Day
9/03/1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/05/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
41098
Norfolk Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ACHEUX BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot 1. Row C. Grave 18.
France
Headstone Inscription
PEACE PERFECT PEACE WITH LOVED ONE FAR AWAY. NEVER FORGOTTEN.
UK & Other Memorials
St Thomas' Mission Hall, Green Tye, St Thomas' Church Memorial, Perry Green, Much Hadham Village Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham, Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham, Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross
Pre War
Ernest William Day was born on 9 March 1899, in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, son of William Day and Rose Ellen (nee Bentley) Day, one of eight children. Christened on 7 May 1899, in Much Hadham, Herts.
1901 Census records Ernest aged 2, living with his mother, sister Susan (6 months), at his Uncle and Aunt, Edward and Elizabeth Rogers, home at, 3, Small Les Cottages, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census records Ernest aged 12, at school, living with his parents, and seven siblings at, Chaldean Cottages, Much Hadham, Herts. The family later moved to Green Tye, Herts.
He was a gardener and was unmarried when he enlisted in January 1917.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted at Mill Hill, on 9 January 1917 initially in the 25th Training Reserve Bn. In December 1917, whilst still in England, he was charged with overstaying his leave. He was confined to barracks for 5 days and forfeited 3-days’ pay. He entered France on 8 January 1918 and transferred to the Norfolk’s on 13th January 1918. He died of gunshot wounds to the leg and head in the 37th Field Ambulance on the Somme.
7th Norfolk War Diary:
"28 April 1918 -Two shells fell among "C" company as they were moving off to work. 7 killed 23 wounded some severely.
29th April -Shell fell among party of "B" company on way to work. Six casualties all wounded."
It is presumed that Ernest was wounded by one of the shell attacks on either the 28th or 29th and died of his wounds on May 1st.
Additional Information
Mrs. Day (mother?), Green Tye, Much Hadham, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "PEACE PERFECT PEACE WITH LOVED ONE FAR AWAY. NEVER FORGOTTEN". His parents received a Dependents Pension of 4/- a week from 12 November 1918. His effects of £9-3s-10d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £5, went to his mother Rose.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum)
