John Wilson (O'Hara) Day (abt. 1915 - 1942)

Ancestors

Biography

John Wilson Day was born in 1915 under the surname O'Hara. His parents were listed as Albert Bourke O'HARA and his wife Isabella Day (nee GRAHAM) and he was born at West Guildford in Western Australia.

However according to his Enlistment papers in World War I, John Wilson Day was born about 1915 at Bassendan, Western Australia, the son of Henry Stuart and Isabella Jane Day. His birth does not appear to have been registered.

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Paddington, NSW on 06 Jul 1940 as a Private (NX53100). At the time he was single, a clerk and living at Mosman NSW. He had brown hair and brown eyes.

After training he was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) on 10 May 1941.

He embarked on HMAT "Zealandia" on 12 Jul 1941 for Kavieng, New Ireland in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 29 Jul 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Ireland on 23 Jan 1942 he was probably with the bulk of the Coy who escaped overland to Kaut on the south coast and boarded the "Induna Star" on 29 Jan 1942 before making their way along the coast of New Ireland heading to Rabaul. When they learned that Rabaul had fallen and hearing that the Japanese had landed to the east of them (false) the ship sailed south. It was spotted by a Japanese aircraft, bombed and taken under tow by a Japanese destroyer on 02 Feb 1942 and entered Rabaul on 03 Feb 1942 where he became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul.

He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed in the South China Sea, and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942. It was en route from Rabaul to Hainan off the south coast of China, where he was destined for forced labour.

From The West Australian newspaper of Tuesday 23 October 1945 we see a Death notice which gives more information on his family:

DAY.- ln loving memory of John Wilson (Wass) NX53100. 1st Independent Ccy. A.I.F.. now presumed dead with all his mates on prison ship, Montevideo Maru. about July. 1942; younger brother of Harry (Gay). of 2/28th Anti-Tank Guns, who died of wounds. Alamein. 1942 Dad and Alice (673 Murray-street). and. aunty. sister, Doll Kellie (N.SW.).

Note: the Harry Day listed in this Death Notice who died at El Alemain was in fact: Corporal Henry Stuart Day. The son of Henry Stuart and Isabella Jane Day; husband of Jane Day, of Perth, Western Australia, courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

Research Notes

Possible birth for John

Government of Western Australia, Department Of Justice: Birth, Deaths and Marriages. Birth. O'Hara, John Wilson Day; M; Albert Bourke O'HARA; Isabella Day GRAHAM; West Guildford; 1915; Swan; 6100401; 1915. https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justice/online-index-search-tool

However his father, on his war records, was listed as Henry Stuart Day.

Note a Henry Stuart O'Hara was born in 1914 at Bayswater in Western Australia. He was also the son of the same parents as John Wilson O'Hara. They were Albert Bourke O'HARA and Isabella Day GRAHAM.

Sources

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - DAY JOHN WILSON : Service Number - NX53100 : Date of birth - 24 Dec 1915 : Place of birth - BASSENDEON WA : Place of enlistment - PADDINGTON NSW : Next of Kin - DAY HENRY - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=4623380

• Deaths On Service - Family Notices (1945, October 23). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved February 25, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44826261

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1709966

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615568/day,-john-wilson/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/625563

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/day-john-wilson/

• Family Notices from The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) of Tuesday 23 October 1945, Page 1. first accessed on TROVE on the 6th of April 2024 at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/44826261