Cecil James Day

Story:
Cecil James Day was born in Manston, Dorset, on 29th April 1893 and baptised there on 30th July 1893, the son of Frederick Robert Day and Caroline Kate Bartlett Day (née Cluett).  He lived his very early life in Manston until by 1907 he had moved with his family to Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Shoeing Smith.  He enlisted with the 1/1st Battalion of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry eventually being promoted to Corporal (Service No. 450).   It is known that the Battalion was in action in Gallipoli, Turkey.   He later transferred to the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 230024) and served in Egypt.  He was eventually discharged on 27th June 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star.  The 1921 Census shows he had returned to live with his parents in Twyford but was described as an Agricultural Smith working on his own account.  He married Martha Alice Clist Chick at Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 26th December 1928.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Branch Farm, Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was described as a Dairy Farmer and Blacksmith.  He died in the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 14th February 1963.