THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO CORPORAL SIDNEY DAY, 11TH BN, SUFFOLK REGIMENT, HAVE BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY DIX NOONAN WEBB. |
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28 February 2018 |
The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Corporal Sidney Day, 11th Bn, Suffolk Regiment, have been sold at auction by Dix Noonan Webb on the 28th February 2018. The estimated sale price was between £120,000 and £140,000. The sale hammer price realised £160,000. The Sidney Day Victoria Cross group was purchased by the Michael Ashcroft Trust on behalf of the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. The group will go on display in the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery.
Sidney Day had transferred from the 9th to the 11th battalion by the time of his Victoria Cross action. It was serving with the 11th Bn during the German Spring Offensive that he was wounded for a final time and was taken prisoner of war at the battle of Lys on the 10th April 1918.
For the award of the Victoria Cross
[ London Gazette, 17 October 1917 ], Hargicourt, France, 26 August 1917, Corporal Sidney James Day, 11th ( Service ) Bn, Suffolk Regiment ( Cambridgeshire ).
On reaching a point where the trench had been levelled, he went alone and bombed his way through to the left, in order to gain touch with the neighbouring troops. Immediately on his return to his section a stick bomb fell into a trench occupied by two officers ( one badly wounded ) and three other ranks. Corporal Day seized the bomb and threw over the trench, where it immediately exploded. This prompt action undoubtedly saved the lives of those in the trench. He afterwards completed the clearing of the trench, and, establishing himself in an advanced position, remained for sixty-six hours at his post, which came under intense hostile shell and rifle grenade fire. Throughout the whole operations his conduct was an inspiration to all.
Sidney Day was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 9th January 1918.
Sidney Day died on the 17th July 1959 in Portsmouth and was buried in the town's Milton Cemetery. |
Iain Stewart, 3 March 2018