MY great uncle William George Day of Hampton Park, Southampton was one of many young men from Southampton who served and perished while serving with the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment during the First World War.

It was 100 years ago on 7 December 1915, that the Siege of Kut in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) began, which was destined to become the longest siege in British military history. Kut fell on 28th April 1916, with the surrender of our soldiers to the Turkish Army.

The treatment of captured NCOs and soldiers was considered to have been substantially worse than that suffered by Japanese prisoners in 1942-45. Only 70 of 350 captured Dorsets survived to the Armistice.

My great uncle was reported as having been killed on June 30, 1916. So this being the case I and members of my family will be remembering him at Southampton War Memorial on Saturday, June 25 at 2.30pm.

We would like to welcome other members of the extended Day family and others who lost a loved one at this or as a result of the Siege of Kut.

I would also be very interested to hear from other families.

BRIAN O’NEILL

High Street, Eastleigh

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