Minnie Louisa Day – a soldier’s wife

Every cemetery story is a recognition, a celebration of a life, but sometimes that story is one so sad it is difficult to write and to read. Such is the story of Minnie Louisa Roach whose future looked promising when she was born in 1874. Her father John Roach was an erector employed in the Works, her mother was Louisa Roach and she had a brother William born in 1873. By the turn of the new century the family were living in Avenue Road.

Image published courtesy of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

Minnie married Frederick William Gilchrist, a railway clerk, at the Wesleyan Chapel Bath Road on March 23, 1901. He was 38 years old and she was 26. They began married life at 39 Dean Street, but sadly less than 3 years later Frederick died.

A Well Known Volunteer

For 7 Years Bugle-Major

The death took place on Thursday, Dec. 31^st at his residence, 4 Lethbridge-road, Swindon, of Mr F.W. Gilchrist, a well-known Swindonian, who has been a great sufferer for the past two years or more, his illness being induced by the after effects of influenza. He has been taken in
the prime of life – he was only 40 years of age, – and leaves a sorrowing widow, but no children. Deceased, who was the son of Capt. G. Gilchrist, of the Royal Artillery, was for many years employed in the Drawing Office, GWR Works, Swindon. But he was best known to the public as a prominent member of the Wilts Rifle Volunteers. He was a man of fine physique and good soldierly bearing. He was a member of the F and G Companies for 27 years, during 7 of which he held the position of bugle-major.

Extracts from The Swindon Advertiser, Friday, January 8, 1904.

Minnie moved back into 45 Avenue Road where she lived with her widowed mother. In 1913 she married again. Her second husband was Frederick Charles James Perry Day, the illegitimate son of Kate Day. Frederick was a coach body maker in the GWR Works and had spent most of his life living with Charles and Elizabeth Davies, presumably relatives, at 101 Stafford Street. At the time of her second marriage Minnie was 39 and Frederick 34. They should have been looking forward to a long and financially secure marriage, but of course a war was just around the corner and Frederick enlisted.

Perhaps the fear and anxiety proved too much for Minnie. She died in 1917, a patient in the Devizes Asylum.

A Soldier’s Wife’s Death – The death took place on Tuesday, at the age of 42 years, of Minnie Louisa Day, wife of Corporal Day, RFA now on active service at Salonika.

Deceased was the only daughter of the late Mr John Roach, of 45, Avenue Road, Swindon, and leaves her husband, an only brother, and a widowed mother to mourn a heavy loss.

The funeral took place on Saturday at Swindon Cemetery amid many tokens of respect on the part of friends and neighbours.

Amongst the beautiful wreaths was the following – “With deep sympathy and in grateful remembrance of much kindness shown in 1907 – from Mrs L.A. Baugh – ‘Thy will be done.’”

The relatives of deceased desire to return sincere thanks for the many kind expressions of sympathy received in their sad bereavement.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, May 25, 1917.

Stafford Street

Minnie was buried in grave plot E7888 on May 19, 1917. The burial registers record her address as 101 Stafford Street, the home where Frederick grew up. She was buried with Charles Henry Davies who had died in 1904 and was later joined in 1919 by Elizabeth, his wife, the couple who had raised Frederick.