George Robert Day
The soldier:
George Robert Day enlisted into the army on the 30th March 1909 at the age of 18. His place of enlistment was Heacham. His occupation was listed as ‘Labourer’.
He was assigned regimental number 7918 and joined the Norfolk Regiment.
He was promoted to Corporal on the 27th august 1912 and promoted to Sergeant on the 5th August 1914.
Prior to the outbreak of war, his service record shows he had postings in Norwich, Aldershot and Holywood.
George Robert day was killed in action on Sunday the 25th October 1914, whilst in the First Battalion of the Norfolk regiment.
There lies on his file a note from his commanding officer dated the 15th October 1913 (a year prior to his death) stating George was ‘reliable and hard-working, an honest and very strong man and willing.’
George Robert Day is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Pas De Calais, France (panel 8).
Two of his brothers; Arthur and Ernest also tragically died fighting for their country in World War 1.
All three are commemorated together on Snettisham’s war memorials.
The man:
George Robert Day was born on the 27th March 1891 in Denver, Norfolk to Robert Day (39) and Susan Day (nee Freeman).
He had three older siblings Hannah (1885), William (1st Dec. 1887) and Arthur (26th March 1889).
In 1892 his sister Ellen (Nell) was born, followed by his sister Florence in 1894 and his brother Ernest on the 11th February 1899.
In the 1901 Census the family were still living in Denver, Norfolk. His brother Harry was born in June of this year.
In 1907 George’s last sister Lily Maud was born, giving him 8 siblings (4 brothers and 4 sisters).
By the 1911 census, 2 years after George joined the army, his parents had moved to Snettisham, Norfolk with his younger siblings Ernest (Ernie), Harry and Lily all residing in Malt House Yard.
Following his death, George’s belongings and medals were forwarded to his partner, a Miss Mary Tipping of 115, Peabody Road, South Farnborough, Hampshire.
Tragically of note is the fact that his older brother Arthur (who he had followed into the army) was killed just six days after him on the 31st October 1914. His sister Florence died in 1916 in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada and his younger brother Ernest died in the war on the 31st July 1917.
This meant that in just 3 years (1914-1917) Robert and Susan Day of Snettisham lost four of their 8 children, 3 sons to the war.
By coincidence, when Robert had to have a countersignature on military pension documentation after George’s death this was done by Rev. FW Palmer of Snettisham (local clergy) who had also lost his son, Lt. William Arnold Palmer in the war (Canadian Force). William is also on Snettisham’s memorials.
Pictures – Susan Day (George’s mother) and Florence (his sister)
A class picture of George’s brother Ernest is on Ernest’s story page.
