Day, Stephen Victor Burt (Lieutenant, b.1918 - d.2005)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 227042 Lieutenant Stephen Victor Burt Day, Headquarters South-West Pacific Area, British Army, Netherlands East Indies, Borneo and England, 1942-1952.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains two folders of material relating to Lieutenant Stephen Victor Burt Day.

Folder 1 of 2 consists of one copy of a diary of Lieutenant Day, written between 16 July 1942 and 10 September 1945 [location of the original diary is unknown]. This diary covers the period of Lieutenant Day’s early service with the British Army and time as a prisoner of war of the Japanese. In his diary, written as a series of long letters to his parents, Lieutenant Day writes about embarking from Australia, arriving in the Netherlands East Indies, returning to his work, and enlisting to the British Army. He goes on to write about the surrender to Japan, becoming a prisoner of war, commanding a group of British soldiers, being responsible for the welfare of his men, settling into his first prisoner of war camp at Batavia, poor sanitation and living conditions, daily routines, being part of work parties, travelling by boat to Changi Prisoner of War camp in Singapore, and seeing a concert. He continues, writing about travelling by boat to a camp at Kuching, Borneo, Christmas and New Year celebrations, the environment of the camp, poor food rations, gardening efforts, the weather, recreational activities, feelings of depression, reading books from the camp library, being ill with bronchitis, air raids, the importance of good friends, being interrogated by Japanese guards, the gradual starvation of the prisoners, and the large loss of life of prisoners of war held on Borneo.

Folder 2 of 2 consists of correspondence relating to the discharge of Lieutenant Day. This folder contains:
1x Letter from the British War office to Lieutenant Day, 22 January 1946. This letter thanks Lieutenant Day for his service during the war.
1x Letter from the British War Office to Lieutenant Day, 23 January 1946. This letter informs Lieutenant Day of his release from military service.
1x Letter from the British War Office to Lieutenant Day, 5 May 1952. This letter includes two copies of Lieutenant Day’s statement of service.