Charles Edward Day - Links to Larbert

Sapper Charles Edward Day

2336 Sapper, 3rd Field Company, Engineers, Australian Imperial Force.

Age: 21

Date of death: 26/9/17

Buried: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Grave XXIII.A.9.A

Family history: Son of Margaret Shannon, 678 Argent Street, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. Grandon of Ann Day who resided at the same address. There is an In Memoriam notice in the Falkirk Herald from 28 September 1918 from a Miss J Allan, 9 Church Street, Stenhousemuir ‘in proud remembrance’ of Charles. However, it has not been possible to trace any link between them. Charles was employed as a Bread Carter with the Barrier Cooperative Bakery, named after the series of hills surrounding Broken Hill, when he enlisted, age 18, on 23 June 1915. He listed his previous service as a cadet and was one year with the 12th Engineers. He embarked for the Western Front on 1 January 1916 as part of a reinforcement and arrived in Marseilles on 3 April.

Action leading to his death

On the 25 September 1917, during the Battle of the Menin Road, the 3rd Field Company was engaged in constructing a light railway track in the Vijverhoek area, between Dickebusch and Ypres, when they came under heavy shell fire. Three men were

wounded one being Charles, he received a penetrating wound to the back and was taken to the 6th Field Ambulance and then transferred to 10th Casualty Clearing Station, Lijssenthoek and died of his wounds on 26 September 1917.

Trench map showing the rail network at Vijverhoek

In his will Charles left all his possessions to his Grandmother who he had listed as next of kin and mother on his Attestation form and she received a pension. His mother, Margaret Shannon, wrote to the Australian authorities in September 1920 advising them of the error.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone today, and the original grave marker for Charles at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery