TOPIC:

Private Walter Day, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal for saving the life of a man from drowning at Roodevval Spruit, Orange River Colony, on 16 September 1900

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (4838 Pte. W. Day, 2: R: Berks: Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4838 Pte. W. Day. Rl: Berks: Regt.) number officially corrected; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (J. Day. 2nd. Bttn: Berks: Regt, Sep. 16 1900.) with integral top bronze riband buckle.

23 October 1900 awards (supplementary list)
2nd Bn. Berkshire Regiment –
4838 Pte. W. DAY (a pond at Roodevval Spruit, Orange River Colony, 16 September 1900)
???? Private JONES (a pond at Roodevval Spruit, Orange River Colony, 16 September 1900)
"On the 16th September 1900, J. J. LeRoux, the son of a local burgher, by holding on to the tail of a horse, was carried out some 25 yards from the bank in a pond at Roodevval Spruit, Orange River Colony. Seeing his danger, Jones and Day, who were bathing near, at once swam out, and at great risk rescued him".

Entitled to: ’15 Star trio as 9855 Pte. Walter Day, Royal Berks. Regt. And the Labor Corps 611730 (646 Agriculture Coy. Please contact me if you know the location as I would like to reunite Day's entire group.
Agricultural companies were originally formed on a regimental basis being men no longer fit to serve overseas who were hired to local farmers who were responsible for transferring the appropriate farming (or forestry) skills. The regiments were responsible for pay and rations and the farmers paid a sum (less than agricultural laborer’s rates) to the regiment. Most men were B2 or B3. As an example of how widespread this was between February 1916 and the end of the war the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment placed over 1,500 men into agricultural companies. Ironically, they could find themselves working alongside German POWs. In June 1917 the individual regimental companies operating in the U.K. were transferred to the Labor Corps. About 75,000 men were so employed. In France the RGA still had agricultural companies working in French forests supplying timber to the batteries.

Walter Day was born in 1877/8 in Early, Maidenhead, Berks. He was the son of Joshua and Elizabeth Day and had four brothers (John, William, Jesse and Sidney) and two sisters (Lucy and Edith) He was a farm laborer. At 17 years old, he joined and served as a private (No. 5194 or 7) in the Militia (3rd Royal Berks) prior to enlisting at Reading on 9 Feb. 1897 when he was 19 years and two months old. He was COE. He as 5’4.5” tall and had brown hair and hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. He had a bugle tattoo on his right forearm.

He served at home from 9/2/1894 to 12/2/1898; S. Africa from 13/2/1898 to 30/10/1902; Egypt from 31/10/1902 to 21/10/1904 and then at home from 22/10/1904 to 8/2/1909. He was “awarded Mounted Infantry Cert. at King William’s Town 31/12/1898 and awarded a certificate as having served with the Mounted Infantry in the field during the South African Campaign…” He accidentally injured his knee when not on duty 21/5/1897.

His QSA is confirmed with the clasps CC, OFS, TR as is his RHS Bronze Medal and certificate for saving life from drowning on 16/9/1900 at Roodeval Spruit. His KSA with two claps is also confirmed.

During WWI, Day enlisted when he was 37 years old and 31 days. His address was 49 Station Rd. Marlow, Bucks. He was married to Alice (nee Hill) and they had four children Dulcie Elizabeth, Arthur Reginald, Frederick Ronal and Mary Alexandra). He attested as 9855 Private on 18/8/1914 in the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He served at home from 18/8/1914 to 29/5/1915 when went to F & F on 30 May 1915. Records show that he was punished four times.
On 2 March 1915 Absent from Tattoo for seven days until 8:15PM on 8 March 1915, he was given 8 days punishment. Later in the month on 14 March 1915 he was broke out of Barracks as a defaulter for two days, and given 10 days FP No.2. Later he was absent from Tattoo while at Brigade Training, and given 10 CB and then again he was absent from Tattoo for 10 days while at Divisional Training, until apprehended by the Civil Police at 11:15 AM on 11 February 1915 for which he was given 14 Days FP No. 2. He was admitted to hospital with myalgia (acute muscle pain) in April 1916. He was also hospitalized during the Spanish Flu pandemic, and had seven days sick leave with the Flu on 28 October 1918. He survived with no complications.He was transferred to the Labor Corps as 611730 Pte. On 20/7/1918, and returned home to depot in Oxford where he was posted to 646 Agricultural Company on 31/10/1918. He was transferred to the Army Reserve and demobilized on 12 March 1919 in Nottingham.