DAY, Arthur Frederick
| Service Number: | 7234 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 January 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | London, England, 24 January 1897 |
| Home Town: | Arncliffe, Rockdale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Groom |
| Died: | 18 November 1978, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium in North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Jan 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 7234, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Feb 1917: | Involvement Private, 7234, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Feb 1917: | Embarked Private, 7234, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Arthur Frederick Day was born on 24 January 1897 in London, England¹. His father was Frederick Day, and his mother was Mrs Challon. Later, he and his family migrated to Australia, settling in Arncliffe, Rockdale, New South Wales³. Arthur attended Sydney Technical High School (exact dates not recorded) with his name appearing on the school's Honour Board⁴.Arthur worked as a groom, looking after horses², showing his passion for animals and outdoor work. In August 1916, at only 19.5 years old, Arthur enlisted in the AIF. On his attestation papers, he is described as “19 years and 6 months, trade: groom, next of kin: Frederick Day (father)⁵.”
Arthur left Australia on 7 February 1917 on the ship HMAT A18 Wiltshire⁶., bound for the Western Front. After arriving in Devonport, England, he trained with the 4th Training Battalion, and by October 1917, he was sent across the Channel to join the 13th Battalion in France⁷. The fighting at this time was centred on the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). The mud was thick, the shelling was constant, and the roads were all blown up. Although Arthur didn’t fight in the front trenches, instead, he served as a driver with the 1st Australian Divisional Mechanical Transport Company⁸. His job was to drive wagons and later vehicles, transporting food, ammunition and supplies to the front lines, often at night or under blackout, while enemy shells fell nearby. A war diary later wrote, “The work of the transport was carried out nightly under shell fire along heavily congested roads⁹.”
In 1918, Arthur’s unit was heavily involved in supporting Australians during the German Spring Offensive March - April 1918. Later that same year, he also took part in the Battle of Amiens in August 1918. Finally, he supported the Australians in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line, one of the last big pushes before the war ended. Records also show he was often sick, being admitted to hospitals in November 1917 and again in 1919. After the Armistice in November 1918, he stayed in France and England to help with demobilisation, moving stores and men back home. Finally, on 7 September 1919¹², he arrived back in Sydney.
There is little clear information about his personal life after the war. No records confirm whether he was married or had children. His early experiences with horses and his later role as a driver during the war suggest that he may have continued working in farming or transport. Arthur lived a long life, passing away on 18 November 1978 at the age of 81. He was buried at the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium in North Ryde, Sydney. His name remains on the Sydney Technical High School Honour Board, ensuring his service is remembered by future generations.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
National Archives of Australia (NAA) n.d., Service record of Arthur Frederick Day, NAA: National Archives of Australia, viewed [Accessed 2 Sep. 2025],
Australian War Memorial, viewed [Accessed 2 Sep. 2025],
Google Drive n.d., Arthur Frederick Day [Folder], Google Drive, viewed [Accessed 2 Sep. 2025],
ENDNOTES
1. National Archives of Australia (NAA), Service Record of Arthur Frederick Day, B2455.
2. Ibid., Attestation Papers (Occupation listed as Groom).
3. NAA Service Record, Address at time of enlistment: Arncliffe, Rockdale, NSW.
4. Sydney Technical High School Honour Board, WWI.
5. NAA, Attestation Paper, 9 August 1916.
6. AWM Embarkation Roll, Arthur Frederick Day, HMAT Wiltshire, 7 February 1917.
7. NAA, Service Record, Unit movements 1917.
8. AWM, 1st Australian Divisional Mechanical Transport Company Unit History.
9. AWM4, 13th Battalion War Diary, October 1917.