Capt
Shirley Cuthbert Day
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 07/04/1893 |
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Place of birth: Bournemouth, Dorset, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Stock brockers clerk |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Captain |
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Service number: / |
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Units: — Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Tranquille House, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 99 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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British War Medal Medal |
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Military Cross Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Lt. Shirley Cuthbert Day, a 24 year old former stock brockers clerck from Bournemouth, Dorset, UK, took part in the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. He was part of the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (51st Brigade, 17th Division).
Before taking part in the Battle of Passchendaele he was wounded in April 1916 and was awarded a Military Cross on 1 January 1917.
On 11 October orders were received for an attack. The next day the 10th Sherwood Foresters were formed up in front of the road Tranquille House – Conde House with headquarters at Olga House. The 10th Sherwood Forseters were to capture and consolidate Senegal Farm, Huts V.7.d.3.2., Berthier Farm, Gravel Farm. Zero hour for the attack was 5.25 am. B Coy. was on the right, D Coy. on the left, they were to take the first objective (Berthier Farm – V.7.d.7.4.). A Coy. was in right support, C Coy. in left support, they were to take the second and final objective (V.7.b.7.6. – V.8.c.45.80). The first objective was taken without heavy opposition. Prisoners were taken form Senegal Farm and Berthier Farm. When the second barrage lifted from the first objective, A and C Coy. advance trough B and D Coy towards the final objective. With a little opposition at Gravel Farm the objective was reached and consolidated.
According to an account of his brother Wilfrid Day who could speak with wounded officer Lt. T. Couch, the only officer left in Days Company, Lt. Day belonged to ‘A’ Coy. but before they went into action he was put in command of ‘D’ Company who was stationed close to Tranquille House. According to Lt. Couch they went over the top at 5.25 am and when they had advanced about ten yards he saw a shell burst, killing Shirley and several other men instantaneously. Lt. Couch sent back two men to find his body but one of them was killed and the other came back saying he was unable to find him. After the war his body wasn’t recovered an Lt. Day is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Before taking part in the Battle of Passchendaele he was wounded in April 1916 and was awarded a Military Cross on 1 January 1917.
On 11 October orders were received for an attack. The next day the 10th Sherwood Foresters were formed up in front of the road Tranquille House – Conde House with headquarters at Olga House. The 10th Sherwood Forseters were to capture and consolidate Senegal Farm, Huts V.7.d.3.2., Berthier Farm, Gravel Farm. Zero hour for the attack was 5.25 am. B Coy. was on the right, D Coy. on the left, they were to take the first objective (Berthier Farm – V.7.d.7.4.). A Coy. was in right support, C Coy. in left support, they were to take the second and final objective (V.7.b.7.6. – V.8.c.45.80). The first objective was taken without heavy opposition. Prisoners were taken form Senegal Farm and Berthier Farm. When the second barrage lifted from the first objective, A and C Coy. advance trough B and D Coy towards the final objective. With a little opposition at Gravel Farm the objective was reached and consolidated.
According to an account of his brother Wilfrid Day who could speak with wounded officer Lt. T. Couch, the only officer left in Days Company, Lt. Day belonged to ‘A’ Coy. but before they went into action he was put in command of ‘D’ Company who was stationed close to Tranquille House. According to Lt. Couch they went over the top at 5.25 am and when they had advanced about ten yards he saw a shell burst, killing Shirley and several other men instantaneously. Lt. Couch sent back two men to find his body but one of them was killed and the other came back saying he was unable to find him. After the war his body wasn’t recovered an Lt. Day is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 3
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10 Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2008/2 ). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Sources used |
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Churchill A., Holmes A., Passchendaele 103 Days in Hell, (Solihull, Helion & Company, 2017). Sources used |
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Irwin F., Chichester-Constable C., Stonyhurst war record : a memorial of the part taken by Stonyhurst men in the Great War, (Stonyhurst: Stonyhurst College, 1927), pp.90-91. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1629668 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=7573da1f-d61c-4ce6-84f5-2d26dbcb6bce |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/1153601 |