DAY, Robert Sydney
| Service Numbers: | NX34846, N75878 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 24 March 1911 |
| Home Town: | Ashfield, Ashfield, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | University of Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Medical Practitioner |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 27 Jun 1940: | Involvement Major, NX34846 | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1940: | Involvement Major, N75878 | |
| 27 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Paddington, NSW | |
| 27 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, NX34846, 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 21 Jan 1946: | Discharged Major, 2nd/3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 21 Jan 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, NX34846, 2nd/2nd Pioneer Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Annette Summers
DAY Robert Sydney MB BS FRACGP
1911 - unknown
Robert Sydney Day was born on 24th March 1911, in North Adelaide, SA. He was the son of Sylvester Sydney Day and Rosalind Mary, nee Robertson. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1934. He was a resident medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital in 1935 and a surgical registrar in 1936. He was a senior resident medical officer at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania in 1937. He married Mary Kerr Osborne in Sydney, on 8th December 1940. She was the daughter of James Esmond Osborne and Queenie Kerr. Day and his wife had a daughter who was born on 2nd October 1941 while he was on his way to the Middle East.
Day had joined the AAMC on 23rd March 1939. He then enlisted in Paddington, NSW on 27th June 1940, and was posted to 2/3 Pioneer Bn. At that time, he was single and gave as his next of kin his mother who had remarried, and was now Rosalind Dynon, and living at Henley Beach, SA. He disembarked in the Middle East on 22nd November 1941. He was awarded a Commendation Card for gallantry in action while attached to 2/3rd Pioneer Bn. He returned from the Middle East on 28th February 1943 and immediately attended an anti-malarial course. Day was promoted to major, on 6th August 1943, and was appointed as DADMS of 6 Div on the same date. Subsequently, he was attached to 104 CCS and, on 9th December 1944, he embarked for Aitape, PNG. He was posted as a company commander of 2/8th FdAmb on 20th April 1945. He was appointed as an otologist at 115 AMH, at Heidelberg, after his return to Australia, on 3rd July 1945. Day’s full-time service ended on 21st January 1946 at Hampstead, South Australia. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his service. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers on 22nd January 1946 and put on the Retired List on 16th March 1964.
Day practised medicine in New South Wales after the war. He is recorded, in the 1980 Medical Directory of Australia as living in Leura, NSW. At this time, he was an honorary consultant physician at the NSW Masonic Hospital. He was an honorary life member of the western suburb’s medical association and a member of the council of the medical benefits fund of Australia. In correspondence with Central Army Records on 3rd April 1993. He gave his address as 83 Cutler Village, Narrabeen. No further information about his post-war life has been found, and Robert Sydney Day's date of death is unknown. His wife, Mary died in New Zealand in 1993.
Source
Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2.
Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019.
Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD