DAY Frederick George

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral under Hampton casualties, 77614 The Royal Field Artillery.

Evesham Journal and Four Shires Advertiser, 18th January 1919:
Sorrow After Rejoicing
Last Week Pte. Frank Day, of the Worcesters, son of Mr A.J. Day, School-road, Great Hampton, arrived home from Germany, after being a prisoner there for several months. Before being taken prisoner he had been wounded three times. Shortly afterwards news arrived that his brother Fred, who was in the Artillery, had died of bronchial pneumonia in Salonika, and much sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Day in their bereavement. The following letter was received by Mrs. Day:- “Dear Mrs Day, – I deeply regret to inform you your son George passed away at six o’clock yesterday morning, December 26. Practically two-thirds of the battery have been ill through this terrible influenza, and he was sent into hospital with this disease on December 15. I visited him three times myself, as first I thought he was much improved, but when I saw him on December 24 he had contracted pneumonia and the doctor informed me that he was in a dangerous condition. On Christmas Day his sergeant saw him, and his condition was about the same, but he was quite happy. He died in Sarigol Hospital, and was buried in the same afternoon in Sarigol Cemetery. He is a very old member of the battery, and the whole battery mourn his loss. Never have I known anyone so fond of his horses, and his horses knew him as if he was a brother. I myself have known him for the past five months and the way in which he did his work gave more than satisfaction. Major Fetherston, the officers, non-commissioned and men all send you our heartfelt sympathies in your bereavement, – R.F.A.” The deceased was a regular soldier, having joined the army in May, 1913, and was stationed at Portsmouth when war broke out. He was sent to France with a draft of horses in October, 1914, returned to England and rejoined his battery, going out again to France with the battery in February 1915, and took part in the fighting there until after the battle of Loos. Afterwards they were transferred to Salonika, where he has been ever since with the exception of 21 days when he was home on leave last Easter. He had seen much fighting but had never been hurt. Pte Horace Taylor of Hampton, was killed in action on September 4 last, leaving a widow (Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Day’s eldest daughter) and three young children.

(Frederick was the son of Alfred James and Susan Day (nee Gould) who were married in 1883).

The clock on Hampton St Andrew’s Church is a war memorial to WW1 and is inscribed with the words: War Memorial 1914-18.

The tenor bell is inscribed “also in memory of the sons of Hampton who died for the sacred cause of liberty and freedom”.  The name of Alfred Bowell is inscribed on one of the bells, his granddaughter is currently a bell ringer at the church.