大象传媒

DAVID HENRY DAY
O.B.L.I. R.A.O.C. R.E.M.E
Born in Loudwater, High Wycombe, Bucks in 1901
In 1915 his elder brother Arthur 鈥渕ade a mistake about his age鈥�, but joined the Royal Fusiliers, so that his parents were unable to trace him via the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He showed up in a military hospital when he was sixteen.
1918-1919 David Day joined 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was carefully trained in that Regiment鈥檚 tradition, including a deep knowledge of the Regiment鈥檚 achievements.
On demobilisation he was employed by Broome and Wade, Engineers, of High Wycombe. He studied at High Wycombe Technical College for seven years, being awarded the City and Guilds Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. On completing studies had to fmd new employment, and found work with Drayton Regulators, at West Drayton, Middlesex. Moved to Southall, Middlesex.
In the 1930s being aware of the danger posed by Hitler, he volunteered his services as a qualified engineer to the Army Reserve. He expected to join a Tank Corps or R.A.S.C. workshop.
On Friday September 1 1939, he was called to serve in the R.A.O.C. at Hilsea. On September 18 he was sent to France, Base Workshops. Catering facilities being lacking, he was given an allowance of francs and left to fmd his own food. His teeth had been taken out, and he awaited his new false teeth. Fortunately his service with the Ox and Bucks had taught him sufficient French to get by: in particular he was pleased to be able to say 鈥淥eufs et Frites, s 鈥榠i vous plait鈥�. He remembered his Regimental History, and knew of the Regiment鈥檚 exploits in the Peninsular War, and how Colonel Colborne鈥檚 manouevre at Waterloo had assisted the Grenadier Guards to turn 鈥淰ive L 鈥楨mpereur鈥� to 鈥淛e me rends鈥� and 鈥淪auve qui peut 鈥�. In 1919 he had met men whose superb defence of Arras in August 1918 had helped to convert 鈥淥peration Durchbruchmuller鈥� to 鈥淏lack Friday 鈥�. He had also learned how first-class infantry cope with any disaster. During the Phoney War he met the only man who appeared to understand the importance of his work in repairing and maintaining Bofors Guns 鈥� the Duke of Windsor. His military superiors insisted that he must use a War Office Manual suitable for the half-trained. As a seven years trained C&G man he could could work faster by a more advanced method.

When the German breakthrough occurred he was under canvas, and fast asleep
They were awakened with a warning that the attackers were already near.
Previous training made him persuade younger and less experienced men to
dress quietly without excitement.
During the retreat, he naturally reverted to Ox & Bucks training; Passive Aircraft Defence (P. A. D.) as laid down ordered men to dive into the nearest ditch. 1918 Ox & Bucks training ordered them to open fire on aerial attackers. During such an attack he climbed a neighbouring hill and did his best to allow for the Stuka鈥檚 greater speed than that of the Fokker of 1918. When he returned the surviving convoy had dispersed, so he set out on foot, thought1lill collecting a couple of bandoliers for his Lee Enfield. His false teeth not yet having arrived, he survived on Vin Ordinaire, hard tack biscuits and bully, and reached
St. Nazaire. He saw Lancastria bombed, but found a place in Georgic, where he was treated in a princely manner.
When she reached Liverpool he made his way to the R.A.O.C. barracks, passing members of the Rifle Brigade on his way. Handing in rifle, bayonet and ammunition he was placed on a charge for having all this ammunition! H was awarded fourteen days confined to barracks. He pointed out to the Sergeant Major that the officer had omitted to ask if he accepted this award. He did not. However, he had encountered members of the Rifle Brigade in town. As he was a former member of the Ox & Bucks the Commanding Officer of the Rifle Brigade would confirm that the Standing Orders of the Light Division stated that in the presence of the enemy every member of that Division should possess his weapons and a hundred rounds of ammunition.
The Sergeant Major returned to his officer, pointing out that Day had no been asked if he accepted this award, and that he had served in a distinguishe Regiment, and was probably the only real soldier in the barracks. That worth:
then showed that he must be a real regular officer, because he sensibly asked 鈥淲hat would you recommend Sergeant Major?鈥� The reply was 鈥淚 would sem him home to his wife and daughter Sir, he has marched for miles and been under attack for weeks鈥�.
Having secured a Travel Order, the Sergeant Major decided to walk to t station with him. In conversation he remarked that he believed that the B. E. had possessed thirteen divisions; but he had not heard of the Light Division. He asked 鈥淲hich General gave that order?鈥� 鈥淪ir Robin Craufurd鈥� was the reply.

On his way home, (he beat the telegram he had sent), at Paddington he met the Agent of the local Conservative party. He had for years been a devote party worker, using his car at elections, and was well known to this gentlemen as a householder. He was asked where he had been, and in conversation mentioned that apart from the Stukas and Panzers, his principal concerns had been his wife and daughter, and his mortgage. 鈥淥h,鈥� said the agent, a former officer in the Army, 鈥渋n my day Private soldiers didn鈥檛 have mortgages!鈥� This remark had certain effects on his thinldng for many years, and on the 1 94 election!
After he had transferred to the newly created R.E.M.E., Drayton Regulators secured his release under the Emergency Works Order, as his special skills were needed by the company.

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