Name
James Day
22/2/1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266028
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield In Memoriam Book, Ponsbourne St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Newgate Street, Ponsbourne St Mary's Church Memorial, Newgate Street, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Much Hadham memorials, Not on the Watton-at-Stone memorials
Pre War
James Day was born on 22 February 1892 in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire son of James Day a Horse Keeper (B 1856 in Standon/ Little Hadham, Herts and Sarah Day (nee Wren) (B 1866 in Standon, Herts). One of Ten children. He was Christened on 1 May 1892 in Much Hadham.
James attended Stapleford JMI school from May 1897 to June 1904.
1901 Census records James aged 9, living with his parents, brothers Charles 11, Herbert 4, Harry 1 and sister Frances 7, in Great Gobions Cottages, Stapleford, Herts. His father was working as a horse keeper on farm.
By 1911 now age 18 James was working as a cowman, living at home with his parents, brothers Charles 20, Herbert 14, William Harry 10, Frank 9 and Clements 6, in Great Gobions Cottages, Stapleford, Herts. He was now working as a cowman.
He later lived in Watton at Stone.
Officially recorded as born in Much Hadham and was living in Watton-at-Stow when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
James enlisted in the County Town of Hertford, posted to the Hertfordshire Regiment with the Service No. 3519, later re-numbered 266028. He was killed in Action on 31st July 1917, during the Battle of St Julien.
Hertfordshire Regiment War Diary Extract: 31st July 1917 -About 3.50am, Battalion moved forward in 4 lines, east of the River Steenbeek. Up until this time casualties had been very slight indeed, but as the Battalion advanced from Steenbeek to Langermarck line (objective) casualties grew heavier from sniper and machine gun fire. However, the Battalion continued advancing. On reaching the enemy wire it was found to be practically undamaged and very thick. Only a handful of men got through, and the remainder of the Battalion suffered exceptionally heavy casualties. During this time, there were approximately 479 casualties including over 30 killed and 132 missing.
Awarded the Victory Medal & British War Medal.
St Juliaan
The 1st Hertfordshire Battalion were in support of an attack on the Langemarck Line and a general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July and the planned assault began. It had three objectives to achieve known as Blue, Black & Green and units of the 116th Brigade easily captured the first two objectives, preparing the way for the forward companies of the Hertfordshire battalion, to take the third objective.
They had marched from Vlamertingue to their assembly position arriving by midnight on the 30th/31st July 1917. A general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 31st July. At 05.00am the Hertfordshires left their assembly positions to attack their objective, which lay over the crest of a ridge.
As they made their way forward, they came under heavy fire from both German machine guns and snipers but after eliminating a German strongpoint moved up towards St. Juliaan, which was only lightly held. The Battalion crossed the Steenbeek with some difficulty and two of its supporting Tanks became bogged down in the mud. Things then went from bad to worse. A pre-arranged artillery barrage never materialised due to the guns being unable to move forward over the muddy terrain and the German barbed wire defences, which were fifteen feet deep in some places, were found to still be intact. It was soon realised that ground could only be won by section "rushes" supported by the unit’s own fire.
The Cheshire Regiment were on the right of the battalion but the Black Watch, who were due to cover the left flank, had been seriously delayed. This left the Hertfordshire Regiment seriously exposed, the Germans exploited this by bringing a hurricane of fire down upon the stricken troops. This was followed by a German counterattack and by 10.30am it was clear that the objective could not be achieved. Casualties were very heavy with 459 men being killed, missing or wounded. This was 100% of its Officers and about 75% of its Other Ranks.
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £2-13s-10d, Pay Owing and £13, War Gratuity, which went to his father James.
Discrepancies in age between the Census and the CWGC.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Sarah Day (Mother) of Tylers Causeway, Newgate Street, received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album.”
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum), Stuart Osborne, Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
