S/4850, A/203118 Rfn. Henry Arthur (Harry) Day, 13/Rifle Brigade transferred to 1/ K.R.R.C (1879-1917)

Henry born in Hackney 1879, (St. George in East) his parents were Henry Edmund Day and Rosina Amelia Day (nee Wittenhall). His siblings were Florence M (1879), Elizabeth Sarah (1880), Elizabeth P (1881), Henry H (1883), Alfred (1885), Edith Mary (1886), Leonard Sam (1888), Harold (1891), Rosena (1895) and Ethel Lillian (1903). His father Henry Edmund was employed as a mill machine band maker.

The Census of 1891 records his parents residing at 57 Johnson Street, Stepney, with his siblings were Florence M (1879), Elizabeth Sarah (1880), Elizabeth P (1881), Henry H (1883), Alfred (1885), Edith Mary (1886), Leonard Sam (1888).

The Census of 1901 records his parents residing at 57 Johnson Street, Stepney with his siblings. Henry was 18 and employed as a Commercial Clerk. Elizabeth was employed as a cigar maker, Alfred was employed as a Commercial Clerk and Edith was a dress maker and their father was employed as a machine band maker.

By the 1911 Census Henry (Jnr) was residing at 59 Martindale, Road, Custom House East, West Ham, with Nellie Barrett with five children and working as dock labourer. It is possible they were his.

Residence: Stratford, Essex, and enlisted in Stratford, Essex with 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, regimental number S/4850, rank private.

This was a service battalion of the 13th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. Being part of 111th Brigade which was still with 37th Division. They proceeded to France 29/31 July 1915 landing in Boulogne and marched across France to going into reserve for the assault at Loos on 26 September 1915 suffering heavy casualties.

In 1916 they were in action in the battles of the Somme. He was much later transferred to 1st Battalion KRRC and assigned a new regimental number A/203118.

Miraumont, 17 February 1917, the regiment’s part in these operations commenced on 17 February after a month of minor operations, when the 1st Battalion took part in an attack near Miraumont under particularly bad ground conditions. 2nd and 18th (Eastern) Divisions would carry out an attack south of the Ancre and 63rd (Royal Naval) Division would mount a subsidiary attack north of it. The weather changed, being wet and misty, and ground thaw made conditions difficult. The ground was thick mud, and the stretcher bearers were forced into shell holes when, Jerry counter attacked, they fell back into short pieces of trenches dragging bodies with them, they so covered in mud. After removing dog tags and documents they were buried in a shell hole. 180 German prisoners were captured. Their first objective was taken and consolidated. With the loss of 5 officers killed, 4 wounded, and other ranks 182.

Arthur Henry Day was one of those casualties on the 17 February 1917.

He had no known grave and the CWGC commemoration is on the Thiepval Memorial pier and face 13 A and 13 B.

Registers of soldiers effects record that at the home barracks in Winchester there was held £17-8-5 this was paid out by money order on 16 August 1917 to his sole legatee, his mother Ellen Day and on 7 February 1918 she claimed his war gratuity of £10-10 shillings, which was paid on 10 October 1919, she was residing at 3 Livingstone Road, Bromley by Bow, Stratford, E.

His medals: 1914/15 Star S/4850 Rfn H. A. Day British War Medal, missing Victory Medal, missing Memorial Plaque missing