James Horace Young Day was born at 33 Boosbeck Road, Skelton Green on 12th September 1895, the youngest son of William Day and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Young). He was baptised on 10th October 1895 in All Saints parish church.

On 12th October 1912, at the age of 19 years and 1 month, he attested into the Royal Field Artillery on Short Service terms (6 years with the colours plus 6 years on the Reserve list). On this date he was already serving with 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. His medical report at attestation describes him as being 5ft 11¼in tall and weighing 156 lbs. with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. On 12th October 1912 he was posted to 71st Battery, 36th Brigade Royal Field Artillery at the rank of Gunner.

On 28th November 1912 he was awarded his Certificate of Education 2nd Class. On 1st March 1914 he was appointed Acting Bombardier and this was followed by promotion to Bombardier on 5th August 1914.

On 30th October 1914, at the age of 18, he died at No.7 Stationary Hospital Boulogne (the cause of death was not stated) and he was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery the same day in grave III A 22.

By the end of the war his father had died and his mother had moved to 40 Bishophill Senior, near York. It is an odd coincidence that James was the first casualty from the villages and his older brothery, Walter Edward Day, was the last.

Peter Appleton