Sidney James Day

Corporal Sidney James Day VC (3 July 1891 – 17 July 1959) was a British Army soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a British or Commonwealth serviceman.

Sidney James Day
Born3 July 1891
Norwich, Norfolk
Died17 July 1959 (aged 68)
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Buried
Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankCorporal
UnitSuffolk Regiment
Battles/warsWorld War I
Awards Victoria Cross

While serving as a corporal in the 11th (Service) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, British Army during the First World War, he was seriously wounded during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and invalided back to England, spending several months in hospital. Upon discharge, he returned to duty in Northern France.[1]

On 26 August 1917, east of Hargicourt, France, Day was in command of a bombing section detailed to clear a maze of trenches still held by the enemy; this he did, killing two machine gunners and taking four prisoners. Immediately after he returned to his section, a stick bomb fell into a trench occupied by five men, one badly wounded. The corporal seized the bomb and threw it over the trench where it immediately exploded. He afterwards completed the clearing of the trench and established himself in an advanced position, remaining for 66 hours at his post, which came under intense fire.[2]

Death

He died in Queen Alexandra's Hospital on 17 July 1959, aged 68, and is buried in Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth.[3][4]

References
  1. Gliddon 2004, p. 132.
  2. "No. 30338". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 October 1917. p. 10678.
  3. "Memorials in Portsmouth". Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  4. Gliddon 2004, p. 133.

Bibliography
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