The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Day
First Name:
Donald Alexander
Nick Name:
Doodah
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX7240
Company:
'B' Company, No. 8 Platoon
Enlisted:
1.08.1940
DOB:
21.10.1913
Place of Birth:
Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Father's Name:
William Frederick Day
Mothers's Name:
Vertue Day
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Shop Assistant
Memorial:
Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 28.
Cause of Death:
Died of Wounds. Wounded whilst withdrawing No. 3 gun back 100 yards to new position on Mandai.
Place of Death:
West Mandai Road
Date of Death:
11.02.1942

General Description

Don (or Doodah) born 1917 Jarrahdale, was working a Gwalia when enlisted  AIF 10 Sep 1940, he joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Company 8 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt MacKinnon.
Wounded whilst withdrawing No. 3 gun back 100 yards to new position on Mandai Road.
Don Day was one of four men from 8th Platoon to tragically die on 11 February 1942 aged 28 years.  The others were second-in-charge Sgt Richard Sandilands, Raymond Carruthers and Robert Smith.
Read further about this. 
Only 22 of 8th Platoon would return home by the end of the war.

Please read 2021 Kings Park Service for Fall of Singapore

Day Donald Alexander
Donald Alexander Day
EPSON MFP image
Doo-Dah Day No.8 Platoon

 

Don Day married Hilda Ruby McAlister in 1936.

 

 

Day Don

 

 

 

DAY FAMILY CONNECTION

Pte. Donald Alexander DAY WX 7240

and Pte. Martin William DAY WX17391 

Martin William Day’s father Horace William Day born 1900 died 1974 (married to Amelia Lewis 1920) was second son of a family of thirteen (13) children born to William Frederick Day 1867-1953 (married 1898 to Virtue Eacott.).
Donald Alexander Day born 1913 was ninth (9th) of those thirteen (13) children, and 6th son born to William Frederick Day and Virtue Eacott.
Don Day attended school at Jarrahdale Primary and later Rockingham.  He also attended Mundijong Sunday School.
 Martin Day is nephew to Don Day, the latter being 7 years older.
 Martin Day enlisted 27 Oct 1941, joining ‘E’ Company.
Within 4 months Martin had been KIA Singapore 11th February 1942, aged 21 years, the same day as his uncle Don Day died aged 28 years.   Don enlisted 1st August 1940 and assigned to ‘B’ Company.  He was working in Gwalia when he travelled to Claremont to enlist.
Their deaths would have been tragic beyond belief for the Day family.

Don Day’s name is inscribed on the Byford War Memorial. 

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