PERCY OLIVER JAMES DAY

Percy is remembered on the war memorial at the Y.M.C.A., Ipswich.

Born: 1887, Offton, Suffolk.

Died: 19th July 1916; age 29; KiA.

Killed leading a night raiding party on a German trench.

Residence: ‘Nirvana’ High Street, Needham Market, Suffolk.

Occupation: After serving as a Commercial Clerk, at Needham Market, Percy joined the staff of the River Plate Bank, London, and his capabilities as a linguist were so marked that the bank transferred him to their branch at Antwerp, Belgium.

Rank: Second Lieutenant.

Regiment: King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 17th Battalion.

Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.

Grave Reference:

III.J.14.

Le Touret Military Cemetery,

Richebourg-L’avoue,

Pas de Calais,

France.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Ernest & Ellen Day, of High Street, Needham Market, Suffolk; husband of Gladys Day, of ‘Nirvana’ High Street, Needham Market.

Brother to SYDNEY ERNEST DAY.

CENSUS

1891   Creeting St, Mary, Suffolk.

Percy was 3 years old and living with his parents and siblings.

James Alfred Ernest Day, 25, a Blacksmith, born Needham Market, Suffolk.

Ellen Eliza Day (nee London), 22, born Offton, Suffolk.

Sydney Ernest Day, 2, born Creeting St. Mary.

Miriam Ethel Day, 10 months, born Creeting St. Mary.

1901   Barking, Suffolk.

Percy was 13 years old and living with his parents & siblings.

James, 35, a Blacksmith.

Ellen, 32.

Sydney, 12.

Miriam, 10.

Mabel Ellen Day, 9, born Creeting St. Mary, Suffolk.

Claude Alec Day, 4, born Needham Market, Suffolk.

Frank Cyril Day, 3, born Needham Market.

  The Day family in their back garden at Creeting.

In 1915, Hampstead, Middlesex, Percy married Gladys Davies.

On the 13th December 1921, Percy’s widow, Gladys Day applied for her late husband’s medals from her home – 46, Norland Square, Holland Park, W.11.

Soldiers’ Effects to Messrs. Cox & Co. for credit to a/c of Mrs. Gladys Day – widow.

Image: Eliza Ellen Day.

 A family note:

Percy has an interesting story as he was working in a bank in Antwerp when war was declared. The family begged him to come back to England which he did, and soon enlisted. Percy trained at Bexhill on Sea and was killed leading a night raiding party on a German trench.

Anthea Briggs