Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Ernest George Day was born on 16 June 1886 at Wincanton, Somerset, England, the son of Sydney and Hannah Phyllis (née Morris) Day. In 1891 Ernest was at home at Wincanton with his parents, three sisters and four brothers, including Herbert Bernard Day who also came to New Zealand and Jack Morris Day who emigrated to Australia. These three lads were still at home in 1901, Ernest employed as a telegraphic messenger. Their father died in 1905. Only their sister Florence was with their widowed mother in 1911. About 1908 Ernest came to New Zealand. His brother Herbert (Bert) may well have come at the same time. By 1911 he was a compositor in Christchurch, while Herbert was a carpenter at Willowby near Ashburton. Ernest George Day married Minnie Elizabeth Webb on 16 June 1915 at Chalmers Church, Timaru.

Ernest G. Day, care of Press Co., stone-hand, married, registered for the Eighteenth Reinforcements on 9 June 1916 in Christchurch. It was on 6 September 1917, after his name had been drawn in the Tenth Ballot, that he enlisted at Christchurch. He named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs Minnie Day, care of G. B. Webb, 122 North Street, Timaru. At his medical examination, he gave a family history of his father and a brother having died of phthisis. He himself had had rheumatic fever nine years earlier. His brother Percy Lionel Day died in 1901 at the age of 24. Private E. G. Day embarked with the Auckland Infantry Regiment of the 33rd Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Glasgow, Scotland, on 31 December 1917 by the “Athenic”. His name appeared in a casualty list as having been wounded on 12 September 1918.

He returned to New Zealand per the “Ruahine” (Draft 205), leaving from London on 8 December 1918 and arriving on 21 January 1919. He was discharged on 19 February 1919, in consequence of being no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in action. For his service in Western Europe he received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

A roughcast bungalow on a section of 25 perches at 79 Strickland Street, Sydenham, was sold for $6700 at auction on 3 February 1972. The house was 56 years old and had a Government valuation of $4700. The original owner of the house, Mr E. G. Day, attended the auction. Ernest George Day died on 2 July 1973 at Christchurch, aged 87 years – “(late of Strickland Street) . . . . . beloved husband of the late Minnie Day and loved brother of Bert (Ashburton) and Jack (Jack (Australia).” The funeral service was held at the Canterbury Crematorium. His next-of-kin at death was Mr H. Day, Turangi Home, Ashburton. Herbert Bernard Day (Bert), Ernest’s brother, had also served in World War One with the New Zealand Forces. Bert died on 3 October 1973 at Ashburton, aged 91. He was predeceased by his wife and his brother Ernest and survived by his brother Jack in Sydney. Alice Annie Day, the eldest sister of Ernest and Bert, had also come to New Zealand. She died on 2 August 1946 at Ashburton – “dearly loved sister of H. B. Day, Willowby, and E. G. Day, Christchurch.”

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [18 October 2022]; 1891, 1901, 1911 UK Census returns (ancestry.com.au) [October 2022]; Sun, 3 September 1917, 11 January 1919, Lyttelton Times, 28 September 1918, Star, 11 January 1919, Press, 3 August 1946, 4 February 1972, 30 July 1973, 1 August 1973, 8 October 1973, Ashburton Guardian, 5 August 1946 (Papers Past) [11, 24 & 26 October 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.