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Sidney James Day VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Day originally enlisted in the 9th Sussex Regiment. However, after being seriously wounded in four places during the Battle of the Somme, he was invalided back to England, spending several months in hospital near his home. Upon discharge, he returned to duty as a corporal with the 11th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment.
He was 26 years old, and a corporal in the 11th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 26 August 1917 east of Hargicourt, France, Corporal Day was in command of a bombing section detailed to clear a maze of trenches still held by the enemy; this he did, killing two machine gunners and taking four prisoners. Immediately after he returned to his section a stick bomb fell into a trench occupied by five men, one badly wounded. The corporal seized the bomb and threw it over the trench where it immediately exploded. He afterwards completed the clearing of the trench and established himself in an advanced position, remaining for 66 hours at his post which came under intense fire.
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