Day, Edward

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Edward was born in Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 16 December 1896, the ninth son of Leopold and Mary Ann Elizabeth (nee Bonfield) Day. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Edward enlisted with the 3/1^st Reserve Hertfordshire Yeomanry division of the Household Cavalry on 20 November 1915, Regimental Number 2880.  He and his nephew, Charles Leopold, signed up together at Hertford, Hertfordshire.  In June 1917 Edward and Charles were transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion, Regimental Number 106044.  On 27 November 1917 Edward embarked for the Asian Theatre of War, Mesopotamia and Persia, to Basrah where in March 1918 he saw active service in the Ramadi Battles.  In July 1918 Edward contracted a recurring fever and he was evacuated to hospital in Calcutta, India via a Field Ambulance in Persia.  Edward survived the War and was discharged from the army on 23 October 1919.

Edward was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Before enlisting he was a clerk assisting in the family bakery.  His father’s will of 1923 cites Edward as overseer of the family bakery.

It is not known if Edward married or had children, nor when he died.

Edward’s brothers Jack, Harry and Cyril all served in the War and survived.  Arthur was killed in action at Abbeville on the Somme.