Alfred Day
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was born about 1886, the son of Henry and Ellen Day who had two children; Nellie and Alfred. In 1901 the family was living at 9 Mayfield Grove, Meadows; there were two boarders in the house, Frederick Davey (27) and George Bowyer (44). Alfred joined the army in 1908 and by 1911 his parents were living at 41 Beauvale Road, Meadows. Their daughter, Nellie Day, and her child, Nellie Day (2), were in the household at the time of the census. Nellie was described as 'married' but her surname was as her maiden name. A boarder, Arthur Frederick Pare (47), was also living with the family.
He enlisted in the Army on 9 July 1908. He died of wounds in No 13 (possibly No 18), General Hospital, Boulogne, and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery (grave ref III.B.5)
Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 25 November 1914: ‘Day. October 28th at Boulogne, Alfred Day, only son of Henry and Ellen Day, age 28 years.' His father, Henry, was his sole legatee. Article published 11th December 1914 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- MUNDELLA SCHOOL. “Tribute to Old Boys who Died for Their Country. “Another year of excellent and effective educational work was terminated yesterday [10th December 1914] at the Mundella School, Nottingham, the occasion being marked by the annual assembly of parents and scholars at the distribution of prizes won during year. Mr. A. Middleton presided over a crowded attendance, and Mrs. Field, wife of the vicar of St Mary's, distributed the prises. “The old scholars have made a noble response to the country's call, so that it was fitting that in his annual report the headmaster (Mr. J. A. Jones) should have taken the opportunity of paying tribute to his former students. “Speaking of the war, he remarked: “I am glad to say our old boys generally have answered the call of duty, and there are at least 200 who have joined the colours since the outbreak of war. We know of three who have already lost their lives in fighting for their country. One, Jesse Atkin, whom many of you here knew well, a lieutenant in the Sherwood Foresters, was killed in action in Belgium on November 20th. He was a fine fellow in every way, and we sympathise with his parents, but we feel proud of him and of the sacrifice he made for his country. “Sacrificed a Professorship. “Another old scholar,” said the headmaster, “was Edward Rushton Cook, [a] corporal in the Coldstream Guards, who was killed in action, while Alfred Day,of the Royal Engineers, died of his wounds at Boulogne about three weeks ago. One old boy declined a professorship in English literature at Rangoon University for a lieutenancy in the army. “Altogether, our old boys are worthily upholding the traditions of their country and the honour of their school.” (Applause.)” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
