When he was seventeen, Day attended Lunenburg Academy and from there went on to earn a BA, in 1903 from Mount Allison University. Day was a member of the varsity rugby football team while completing his undergraduate studies. On the school's new athletic field Day scored Mount Allison's first points in the intercollegiate Rugby football in 1900.[1]
Details of the 94th Victoria Regiment "Argyll Highlanders" were called out on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties.
The 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), CEF was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Great Britain on 12 October 1916. It disembarked in France on 10 February 1917, where it fought as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 15 September 1920.
The 185th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders), CEF[3] was authorized on 15 July 1916 with Day as its lieutenant colonel, and embarked for Great Britain on 12 October 1916. There it provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field until 15 February 1918, when its personnel were absorbed by the 17th Reserve Battalion, CEF. Day then commanded the 25th Battalion from August to October 1918.
Literary career
He practiced writing poetry, songs, essays, and news items during his student and army days. After the war he wrote stories for the Atlantic Monthly and Harper's Magazine[4]
Roses of Mercatel, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, School of Music and Drama, 1920
The Hour before Dawn, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, School of Music and Drama, 1921
When the Days came back to Nova Scotia[2] to live they still had a struggle to make a living as Frank's medical expenses had been considerable, including the cost of convalescing in the Southern States and the West Indies. Frank was unsuccessful in getting war disability allowance. His arthritis had stemmed from a blow on the back during a battle in World War I. Retiring to the family cottage the Days spend their time at the tiny village of Lake Annis in Yarmouth County. Where Frank spent his time with friends Harry Hamilton and Joe (Jim) Charles, the Mi'kmaq guide in Hectanooga. They spend their season fishing, hunting, paddling the water ways of Yarmouth County.[7]
^Crowell, Bill (April 2008). The artist & the colonel: The story of Mabel Killam Day and Frank Parker Day. Vol. one. Glen Margaret Publishing. p. 136. ISBN978-1-897462-03-4.
^Day, Frank Parker (1 September 1923). "An epic of Marble Mountain". Harper's Magazine. September 1923 – via Harpers.
^Crowell, Bill (April 2008). The artist & the colonel: The story of Mabel Killam Day and Frank Parker Day. Vol. one. Glen Margaret Publishing. p. 142. ISBN978-1-897462-03-4.