Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Max was the oldest of eight children and was born in Nairne on the 19th July 1916 to Frank Lester and Florence Muriel Day. His siblings included Ivan, Dora, Jean, Ross, Graham, Marjorie and Neil. Their early years, including schooling, was spent in that Adelaide Hills country town, just out of Mt Barker. Living on a farm, the children were all competent horse-riders, enjoying competing in local fetes and Concerts. Several of the siblings competed in the Red Cross Carnival held November ‘40 on one of the generously offered local’s property. Brother Graham won both the musical chairs and bending race, then Ivan and Ross the flag and barrel.
Max also enjoyed performing, receiving a special mention praising his efforts with Mrs. Douglas Wuttke and Mr. John Jurgens, of Murdoch's Hill, for the presentation of a comic sketch during the ’37 Littlehampton Annual Strawberry Fete and Concert.
With the outbreak of WWII, and just days after his 24th birthday, Max enlisted on the 2nd July 1940, becoming SX7434 in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His early days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before he and other new enlistees headed to Woodside for their preliminary training.
During pre-embarkation leave, the local ladies of the Woodside Red Cross and Comforts fund decorated the stage of the local Institute with yellow broom and greenery. The men's Soldiers' Farewell Committee gave a rousing send-off to four soldiers and one member of the navy. Besides Max, the other soldiers were Lindsay Day, also a farmer, who enlisted at a similar time, becoming SX8297 in the 2/7th Field regiment, Alfred Joy SX5769 who served in the Works Companies and Norman Kerber SX5058 who was allocated to Max’s sister battalion, the 2/43rd in June. The young men were each given a parcel of woollies from the Comforts Fund, including a scarf, pair of socks, balaclava cap, mittens, housewife, and a packet of cigarettes. They also received a stainless-steel wristlet watch, with luminous dial, inscribed with their number, name and battalion. Each of the enlistees responded with thanks for their generous gifts. The Onkaparinga brass band performed, and many other musical items followed, including a mouth organ item. A typical country supper and a dance followed.
(Of those farewelled with Max, 36-year-old Lindsay Day survived the war and was discharged in October ’44 but was subsequently killed in a motor bike accident. Aged 26 Norman Kerber died of illness in New Guinea in November 43.)
Max’s younger brother, Ivan Frank also enlisted the following year, in February ‘41, just days prior to his 21st birthday. He was allocated the number SX11342 and placed in the 8th Divisional Ammunition Sub Park. Early in December Ivan sailed for Singapore where he oversaw the distribution of ammunition to other units. History records that the tragic decision was made to surrender to the Japanese, rather than fight, with the whole of Ivan’s division becoming Prisoners of War. Ivan’s fate was to work on the Burma Railway in horrific conditions. Less than two years after leaving Australia, this 23-year-old fit, healthy, country-raised young man died of Beriberi, a totally preventable disease caused by malnutrition and a diet of minimal white rice.
Max and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. Max completed a few months training in Cyrenaica before heading to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees. Max was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
His battalion had barely arrived when in May ‘41 he sustained a gunshot wound, initially reported as being in his left leg, but then clarified as being in both legs, resulting in him being evacuated to hospital. His injury occurred in the fierce fighting for Hill 209 which also claimed the lives of seven others. John Glenn in his book, ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ described conditions that day at Dimra: “At 3:50am on 1st May the men of the 2/48th stood-to to await the outcome of the battle which had raged all through the night. In thick mist, darkness, and bitter cold they snatched a quick breakfast of bully beef and hard biscuits.” In an attempt to take Hill 209 in the heavy dust storm marked by overhead enemy aircraft targeting their carrying vehicles, ‘D Company moved out steadily with two platoons forward- 18 Platoon under Lieutenant Larkins on the right and 17 Platoon with Sergeant Tonkin in command on the left.’ ‘The company then moved well forward under control, and came under small arms fire, but continued until they came under very heavy machine-gun fire from the direction of the Water Point and Post S4.’
The remainder of that day was chaotic, information scant, the men weary and under heavy fire and a raging sandstorm. The next morning there was a terrific dust storm, but a foot patrol set out to find their soldiers who had not returned. For a few of those missing men it was some time before their fate was confirmed. An appalling day for the close knit 2/48th.
Back home in May ’41, the Chronicle listed Max as one of 29 wounded in action from his battalion. These included Pte. Laurence S. Baker, SX7282, Mambray Creek; Pte. Percival G. Bartholomew, SX7122, Narrung; Pte. Thomas Bell, SX8265, Snowtown; Joseph Buckley, SX8459, Albert Park, Vic; Pte. Robert W. Carvosso, SX7888, Glenelg; Pte. Ernest H. Chapman, SX7289, Koongawa; Pte. Ronald R. Collins, SX7163, Gulnare; Pte. M. G. Day. SX7434, Nairne; Pte. Harold W. Gass, SX7147, Mannum; Pte. Ronald A. Gepp, SX7884, Ashborne; Pte. Roy D. Goodes, SX6917. Cur ramulka; Pte. John Kennedy. SX7842, Adelaide; Lieut. Geoffrey D. Larkins, SX10332. St. Peters; Pte. Wilfred. J. Lewis, SX8856, Scott's Creek; Pte Henry O. Lohman. SX7771, Murray Bridge; Pte. Keith H. Pointon. SX7143. Prospect; Pte. Leonard G. Rex, SX7990, Colonel Light Gar dens; and Pte. Leonard J Rodda, SX7327, Moonta.
The ambitious prediction for Max’s return to the front line was that he was ‘temporarily unfit for service by Medical Board’. More realistically by January ’42 he was listed as ‘fit for duties other than active service with field formations.’ In July he returned to Australia via Sydney, then home to South Australia. His role then became being part of the Number 6 Movement Control Group and thence to being a Group III Driver in October.
Unfortunately, the bomb wounds Max had sustained continued to affect his health, resulting in him again being hospitalised, followed by time convalescing in Kapara then the Australian Camp hospital in November ’44.
Max’s parents, Frank and Florence officially read in the May ’43 edition of the Chronicle that Ivan was confirmed as a Prisoner of War. The same newspaper of October ’44 confirmed the death of their second son, 23-year-old Private Ivan Day in Burma on the 27th August 1943. (He was later buried at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery.) However, in a very cruel twist, the family of another local, Private Frank May SX7757, received a postcard in September ’43 saying: "Ivan Day and I are fit and well. We are being well treated, so there is no need to worry. Hoping you are all well. Fondest love to you all." The next month, the Advertiser also shared the contents of a postcard from Pte. Bill Schwab, of North Unley saying that “he is with his friends Walter Bell, of Mount Barker, and Ivan Day of Nairne. Mrs. L. J. Blake, of Ronald Terrace Novar Gardens, received brief communication from her husband, Dvr L. J. Blake. He is with his friends F. Liebow. C. Westley. G. Charles, and Ivan Day.” A second October report in the Advertiser stated “Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Day. of Nairne from their son Pte. Ivan I. Day. He is with his friends Pte. Bill Schwab and Pte. Laurie Blake.“
In reality, many of these young men had already died because of the conditions imposed on them as prisoners. 20-year-old Private Frank May died of ‘illness whist a prisoner of the Japanese, Thailand 26th June 1943.’
36-year-old Private Bill Schwab SX6988 died of ‘illness whist a prisoner of the Japanese, Burma 7th July 1943.’
37-year-old Private Frederick Liebow SX11042 died of ‘illness whist a prisoner of the Japanese, Burma 21st October 1943.’
24-year-old Private Guy Charles QX21352 died of ‘illness whist a prisoner of the Japanese, Borneo, 7th June 1945.’
Private Walter Bell SX10251, Driver Lawrence Blake SX11607 and Private Charles Westley SX11700 survived being Prisoners of War.
For all those families, some time passed before they learned the fate of their sons, held prisoners. In the meantime, with the clear Army classification of undertaking only sedentary duties, Max married Louis Mary Camac in the Balhannah Methodist Church, in an evening service on the 23rd June ‘45. He returned to the Movement Control Group, being promoted to Corporal in September ’45, then Sergeant in November. Max had served his country with distinction, finally being discharged on the 11th October ’46.
Max, Louis and the family continue to mourn Ivan’s death. Max was one of several who placed a tribute in the Advertiser in ’45. ‘DAY In loving memory of Ivan, died of illness (POW) August 27th 1943. He died that we might live in peace. Ever remembered by Max and Louis.’
Two years later, Max’s 53-year-old mother, Florence died in April ’47. She was buried in the Hay Valley Cemetery. (Frank later married a widow, Beatrice Annie May Downing.)
In December’48 Max was best man for a fellow army friend, Raymond De Houghton (SX14059) who served with the 2nd Army Armed Brigade Company, when he married on Christmas Eve in the Hay Valley Church. Myra and Beryl Day were also involved with Myra being a bridesmaid and Beryl a soloist during the signing of the register. Then in February ’54, Max acted as an usher at Myra’s marriage to John Daniel, with Beryl filling the Matron of Honour role, Marjory Day as bridesmaid and George Day as groomsman.
Post war, a variety of card games continued to be popular, and Max certainly excelled in playing Bridge in the local evening competitions. He was also a regular committee member of the Nairne R.S.L. sub-branch where, in conjunction with the proprietor of the local pictures, Mr. Miller, organised for movies to be shown at social evenings. Max also had the role of sports secretary, arranging a variety of events and purchasing additional sports equipment for the RSL members.
Aged 85 Louis died on the 13 April 2004. She now rests in the Boney Flat Methodist Cemetery at Balhannah. Just a few months shy of his 99th birthday, Max died on the 17th February 2015. He and Louis are remembered by their daughters, Glenys and Barabara.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.