Second Lieutenant Norman Leslie Day died on 14th November 1916 serving with the King’s (Liverpool Regiment). Born in Olton in 1894, and baptised at St Margaret’s Church on 1st September 1894, he had moved with his parents to Handsworth by 1897.
Norman was the only son and eldest child of parents William Henry and Emily Louisa. His two younger sisters, Theodora Gwendolen and Eileen Christina were both born in Handsworth in 1897 and 1902 respectively. His sister, Theodora, married Welsh solicitor Ioan Ynyr Glynne in 1927 and they had three daughters. Theodora died in Wales in 1991.
By 1911, the Day family had moved to a house called “Handsworth” in Southgate, London. Father, William Henry, was described as a commercial traveller in the trade of varnishes and colours. 16-year-old Norman was listed as being still at school. He matriculated at Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge in 1913 as a science scholar. Still a student when war broke out, he enlisted as a Private in the 19th Royal Fusiliers. He didn’t see any overseas service whilst in the ranks and was soon commissioned as an officer. He first entered a theatre of war on 5th September 1915 and was killed in northern Greece just over a year later.
Second Lieutenant Norman Leslie Day has no known grave and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial. He is also commemorated on the war memorial at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Having moved out of the Solihull area as a small child, his name does not appear on Olton war memorial.
If you have any more information, please let us know.
Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian
tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk
Solihull Life 
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