Samuel James Day

Story:
Samuel James Day was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th May 1871 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27th December 1871, the son of George Day and Mary Ann Day (née Allen).   He spent much of his life in the Shaftesbury area until his retirement. He married Sarah Jane Holmes at Pewsey, Wiltshire, on 6th July 1897 and set up home at 14 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  They went on to have five children.  He enlisted and joined the Royal Defence Corps as a Private (Service No. 8628).  It is presumed he served in the UK only as no medal record can be found.   The 1921 Census shows him still at 14 Parsons Pool working as a Bricklayer's Labourer for J. Short, Builder and Contractor, of Shaftesbury. His wife, Sarah, died in 1924.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Wyke, Gillingham, Dorset, described as a Retired Gardener.   He died in Gillingham in 1948 and was buried there on 30th October 1948.