Harry Day
Harry Day was a local man who travelled to Canada to start a fresh life before the war intervened and bought him back to Europe and eventually back to Welwyn to end his days. He was born in Welwyn on the 14th May 1887 and baptised in the Parish Church on the 7th August.
His father Frederick from Kimpton and mother Beachy, from Ayot St. Peter had married in Bermondsey in 1868 but by 1871 were living in Ayot with their first son Humphry Frederick. Harry, the seventh son, was born in the family’s next Welwyn home, in White Hill. Frederick Day died in 1892 and the family moved to the Codicote Road. Beachy was working as a dressmaker and Harry as an Errand Boy.
In 1911 a Harry Day, born in Welwyn was listed as working as a footman in Crawley, which is possibly the same man, but it is certain that soon Harry had emigrated to Canada.
Harry enlisted in the Canadian Forces, attesting to the 5th Regiment Royal Highlanders of Canada on the 23rd September 1914. His widowed mother, Beachy was given as his next of kin, his occupation as a Valet and his religion as Wesleyan. Harry was discharged as Unfit for Military Service on the
18th February 1918, by which time his records show the three and a half years of eventful service which caused his death.
November 1914 saw him promoted to Lance-Corporal but in May 1915 he was admitted to Hampstead Military Hospital, suffering from shrapnel wounds to his face and arm the previous month at Ypres and he reverted to the ranks.
The next two years saw him in hospital three more times as a result of
gas attacks.
On the 13th September 1917 he embarked for Canada from Liverpool, on arrival being admitted to Military Hospital in Montreal suffering from what we would today call shell shock as well as heart problems.
A year after his discharge Harry returned to Welwyn, arriving in Liverpool on the 7th February 1919 aboard the SS Melita. It can only be speculated as to whether or not he knew he was coming home to die, but this might seem likely given the state of his health. Harry died at home, of heart disease in the Codicote Road on the 25th March 1919 and was buried in Welwyn Cemetery. The press report (although with some errors) reads -
‘The funeral took place at St. Mary’s Church on Saturday last of Pte. Harry Day of the Canadian Scottish. The deceased had been three times gassed during the war and died as a result of this.He was the second son of Mr. H. Day of Codicote Road, who has two sons still serving. The funeral was attended by many friends.’
Harry is commemorated on the Brookwood Memorial, but a letter published in the Welwyn Hatfield Times in November 2014 sought help in locating his grave. The letter came from Ms. Diana Beauprè who publishes a web site dedicated to Canadian Soldiers buried in the UK (www.canadianukgravesww1.co.uk ).
Harry’s grave in Welwyn Cemetery is unmarked, but investigations, mainly by the
Society and Messers. Peter Shirley and John Quinton, Head Groundsman of Welwyn Parish Council located the position in December 2014. It is hoped that in due course the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will erect a headstone to mark the last resting place of Harry Day
Foot Note
The story of Harry Day was concluded on the 28th March 2017, just a few days over 98 years from his death, when a CWGC Headstone (pictured) was erected to mark his grave in Welwyn Cemetery
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