Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (456 Pte. E. C. F. Day, C.I.V.) extremely fine £120-£160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Elia Charles Farnworth Day was born on 16 November 1874, the son of Charles Day, Stationer, with whom he was associated in business. He joined the 1st Middlesex Rifle Volunteers in 1892 and served in South Africa with the Infantry Battalion of the City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War, dying of enteric fever at Johannesburg on 20 June 1900. His death is referenced by Major-General Mackinnon on page 113 of his Journal of the C.I.V. in South Africa:
‘...brought news of the death of Ptes. Wallis and Day from enteric. The latter I had taken a special interest in; he was managing partner of Day’s Library in Mount St., London.’

On 10 August 1900, £100 was paid from the C.I.V. fund to C. Day, 96 Mount Street (next of kin) and a C.I.V. plaque commemorating Day was placed in St. Mary Magdalen, Wandsworth.

All C.I.V. men were admitted into the Freedom of the City of London on 20 December 1899. Day, however, had earlier been admitted into the Freedom of the City of London by Patrimony on 3 December 1895, raising the possibility that he was twice a Freeman.