Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Arthur Day, a shoe trade clicker, born 1858 in Nottingham and his wife Annie Day (nee Scott, married in the 4th quarter of 1879 in the Leicester district), a housekeeper, born 1859 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Arthur, a schoolboy was born in the 1st quarter of 1882 in Leicester, his siblings were, Walter, a schoolboy, born in the 1st quarter of 1884 in Leicester, Albert, born in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in South Wigston, Leicestershire and Lilian Beatrice, born the 1st quarter of 1891 in Blaby, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family were all residing as boarders at Wigston Street, Blaby, Leicestershire, this being the home of William Gee, a shoe trade riveter, born 1857 in Cosby, Leicestershire, who was the employer of Arthur’s mother as a housekeeper, Arthur’s father was at this time absent. In March 1901 Arthur was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing as a boarder at Wigston Road, Blaby, Leicestershire, together with his widowed mother, a house keeper and his siblings, Walter, a shoe trade riveter, Albert, a shoe trade riveter and Lilian, and his half blood siblings Caroline Gee Day, born in the 3rd quarter of 1895 and Frank Gee Day, born in the 3rd quarter of 1897, the latter two half blood siblings were both born in Blaby, Leicestershire, the family were all residing as boarders in the home of William Gee, a shoe trade riveter who was employing their mother as his house keeper. In the 2nd quarter of 1901, in the Blaby Leicestershire district, Arthur’s mother died aged 40. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a nurseryman and was residing in the family home at Wigston Road, Blaby, together with his wife Hannah Kate Day (nee Mills, married on the 14th October 1905 in the Blaby Registration Office, Leicestershire), a Griswold knitter, born 1883 in Blaby, Leicestershire and their children, Phyllis Annie, born in the 1st quarter of 1907 and Gladys May, 2nd May 1909, the two children were both born in Blaby, Leicestershire. Arthur’s eldest daughter, Phyllis died in the 2nd quarter of 1911 aged 4 years. Arthur attested into the Army to serve a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 31st December 1901 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Margaret’s, Leicester and his age as 19 years and 10 months. He gave his trade or calling as shoe hand and confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his younger brother’s, Walter and Albert Day of Wigston Street, Blaby, Leicestershire, his younger sister, Ethel Day of Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire and his younger sister Lilley Day of Wigston Street, Blaby as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 2¾ inches in height, weighed 115 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had dark grey eyes. It was noted that he had a small mole over his right collar bone. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Royal Scots at Glencorse, Edinburgh as a Private, service number 7862 on the 4/1/02. Posted to the 1st Battalion Royal Scots on the 17/7/02. Permitted to extend his service to complete 8 years with the Colours on the 14/4/04. Discharged having been found medically unfit for further service on the 9/8/14. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 31/12/01 – 16/7/02, 198 days. South Africa, 17/7/02 – 23/3/03, 250 days. Home Service, 24/3/03 – 9/8/04, 1 year 140 days. Total service 2 years 223 days. Arthur was the subject of a Medical Board at Blackdown where he was found to be medically unfit for further service and was discharged from the Army on the 9th August 1904. His military character was described as good, and it was noted that he was in possession of one good conduct badge. He gave his intended place of residence on discharge as the Leicester Workhouse. Arthur again attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours on the 1st October 1914 in Leicester, he gave his place of birth as St. Margaret’s, Leicester and his age as 32 years and 216 days. He gave his trade or calling as nurseryman and confirmed that he was married. He stated that he had previously served for 2 years and 10 months with the Royal Scots and had been invalided out. He gave his wife Hannah Kate Day, and his daughter, Gladys May both of Park Road, Blaby, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3 inches in height, weighed 126 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and his eyes were grey. He gave his religion as Church of England. His physical development was described as good. He was pronounced fit for Army service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 15555 on the 1/10/14. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/10/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Admitted to the 48th Field Ambulance, Arqueves, France suffering from nephritis on the 2/12/15. Transferred from No.25 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, France to England aboard H.S. St. Andrew on the 20/12/15. Posted to the Depot on the 31/12/15. He died from nephritis at Cheltenham Hospital on the 2/3/16. Arthur’s widow and child, now living in Wright’s Yard, Blaby, Leicestershire were awarded a weekly pension of 15 shillings to commence on the 4th September 1916. Arthurs’s surviving service documents from his second Attestation are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.