CHARLES ROBERT DAY
Born: Christmas Day, 1876, Ipswich.
Baptised: 7th October 1883, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich, with his brother, Frank William Day, 29th August 1878 – family home at 46, Norwich Road, Ipswich.
Died: 13th November 1914; age 33; accidentally killed by a passing train on the North Eastern Railway line, near Stocksfield Station, Bywell, Northumberland. Received a large wound on the right side of the head, and his skull was fractured.
Inquest held.
Residence: 16, Compton Street, King’s Cross, Middlesex.
Occupation: a Cellarman.
Enlistment Details: Location: Shoreditch, Middlesex; Date: 12th October 1914; Occupation: Doctor’s Assistant; age 33 years. Religion: CofE. Next of Kin: Robert & Emily Day, 13, Riverside Road, Ipswich. Height: 5ft 5 ins, fresh complexion, hazel eyes & brown hair.
Discharged: 3rd November 1914 – served 23 days.
Second Enlistment for General Service: London: date: 4th November 1914.
Joined Newcastle Barracks – 5th November 1914.
Rank: Driver; Service Number: 44586.
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery, No. 1 Depot.
Grave Reference:
In the North East part.
Bywell,
Northumberland.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Robert & Emily Day, of 18, Riverside Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1881 46, Norwich Road, Ipswich.
Charles was 4 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Robert Day, 29, a Carpenter – House, born Claydon, Suffolk.
Emily Day (nee Harvey), 35, born Claydon.
Mabel Day, 8, born Claydon.
Frank William Day, 2, born Ipswich.
1891 46, Norwich Road, Ipswich.
Charles was 14 years old, a pawnbroker’s Assistant.
Robert, 40, a Carpenter.
Emily, 46.
Mabel, 18, a Pupil Teacher – School.
Frank, 12.
1901 George & Dragon, 151, Cleveland Street, Marylebone, Middlesex.
Charles was 21 years old, he was 1 of 4 Barmen for Publican, Alfred Halliwell.
1911 Devonshire Castle, 320, Harrow Road, Paddington, Middlesex.
Charles was 31 years old and 1 of 5 Barmen for the Licensed Victualler Samuel Cohen.
No Soldiers’ Effects – Insufficient Service.
Charles is also remembered on the war memorial at St Mary at Stoke Church, Ipswich.
Dundee Evening Telegraph – 16th November 1914 – FOUND DEAD ON THE LINE – RECRUIT’S SAD DEATH – The sad death of a recruit, far away from home and friends, was disclosed at an inquest conducted by Mr. P.M. Dodds in the Institute, Stockfield.
Constable Watson, of Stockfield, said that about 7:45 on Saturday morning, he received information that a man was lying dead on the line about a quarter of a mile west of Stockfield Station. He went there and found a deceased with a large wound on the right side of the head, and his skull was fractured.
On the body, he found a certified copy of an attestation bearing the name Charles Robert Day, of 16 Compton Street, King’s Cross. It also stated that he was 33 years of age, a cellarman belonging to Ipswich, and unmarried. He had enlisted for general service.
The Coroner said the paper also conveyed the intelligence that he joined the Service on November 4th, and that he left London on the following day to join the depot at Newcastle. It seemed from the information obtained that the man had actually been at the Newcastle Barracks.
Other evidence showed that the deceased was seen on the road near Stockfield Station on Thursday afternoon.
The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had been accidentally killed by a passing train, but that there was no evidence to show how he got on the line.
Evening Star – Tuesday, 17th November 1914 – IPSWICH MAN’S SAD END – DEATH ON THE RAILWAY – Under mysterious circumstances, the dead body of an Army recruit was found on the North Eastern railway between Newcastle and Stockfield on Saturday.
An inquest was held at Stockfield on Saturday night, when Police-constable Dawson, giving evidence, said that he received information about 7:45 a.m. that day that a man was lying on the railway. On arrival at the spot, about a quarter of a mile away from Stocksfield Station, the witness found the deceased with a large wound in his head and his skull fractured on the right side. On searching the body, Police-constable Dawson found a copy of attestation papers bearing the name Charles Robert Day. Further details revealed that the man was 33 years of age, employed as a cellarman at Ipswich, and unmarried. He had enlisted on the 4th November 1914, in London, and left the following day to join the depot at Newcastle. He had actually been to Newcastle, and further evidence showed that Charles Day was seen in Stocksfield a day or two ago.
“Accidentally killed by a passing train” was the verdict, the Jury remarking that there was no evidence forthcoming as to how Charles Day got on the railway line.
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