Day, William Richard, 1898-1971 : Born 10 September 1898 in Berbice, British Guiana
Father - Bartholomew Austin Day, a British civil servant (Commissary of Taxation), born in British Guiana
Mother - Annie Fowler, born British Guiana
Early education - Queen's College, Georgetown, British Guiana
The family, including seven of ten children, moved to Canada in the spring of 1912, settling in Saint John, NB. Prior to 1912, the two oldest boys died in British Guiana of "jungle fever", contracted while employed as surveyors.
The other children in the family were: Jack, 1889-1912; Annie (Mercer), 1891-1977; Robert, 1893-1909; Frederick, 1894-1972; Charles, 1895-1966; Ethel (Deans), 1896-1957; Dora, 1900-1967; Ted, 1901-1971; and Leilah, 1903-1904
Enlisted in the Canadian Army in August 1914, just before his 16th birthday, as a Signaller in the Royal Canadian Field Artillery (RCFA). He proceeded to Valcartier Camp, Quebec, and was in the first contingent of Canadian troops to arrive in England in October 1914.
Served with the Artillery throughout WW 1, first in England with the Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, subsequently in France with the 4th Divisional Ammunition Column, and the 2nd Canadian Heavy Battery, 2nd Brigade, Canadian Garrison Artillery.
He was commissioned as Lieutenant, RCFA, in 1917 and served as a Forward Observation Officer (F.O.O.) with his Battery. He remained with the 2nd Cdn Heavy Battery for service with the Army of Occupation in Germany in early 1919.
Two brothers also served in the Canadian Army overseas, Lt. Charles F. Day, also Artillery, and Lt. Frederick A. Day, in the 2nd Canadian Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment).
On return to Canada for demobilization, Lt. Day was discharged on 10 May, 1919 in the Maritimes. He then completed a course of training available to soldiers applying for land under the Soldier Settlement Act and subsequently went west to look for homesteading land.
On the way, he obtained employment with a custom harvesting crew in Saskatchewan and stayed with them through the 1920 harvest season.
On hearing that the Province of Manitoba was looking for recruits for the Manitoba Provincial Police (M.P.P.), he applied, was called to Winnipeg, and signed on.
Constable Day was provided with uniform, horse, saddle and sidearm and began a policing career on 9 November 1920. He served in the M.P.P. from 1920 to 1932, was promoted to Sergeant in 1922, and to Inspector in 1928. The Commissioner of the Force throughout this period was Lt. Col. H. J. Martin.
His service extended to many parts of the province, including Brandon, Swan River, Dauphin, Souris, The Pas, and Winnipeg.
He met Nora Gladys Noble (born in Wistow, Huntingdonshire, England) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and they married on 9 June 1923. Their family comprised two daughters (Dorothy and Elizabeth) and a son (Richard).
In the early 1920's, he was placed in charge of the "Border Patrol", a special M.P.P. squad operating along the southern border of the province, with the task of putting a halt to the activities of organized bank robbers who came across the border travelling across country in fast cars, holding up banks in the small towns of southern Manitoba. The squad, equipped with motorcycles, fast touring cars, machine guns and small arms, was successful in bringing the holdups to an end, and with that success, brought good publicity to the Force.
In 1928, Inspector Day was assigned to head the Northern District of the M.P.P. at the Pas, with responsibility for all of Northern Manitoba, including the new Hudson's Bay Railway to Churchill, which was still under construction at that time. This posting lasted from 1928 to 1931 and was a job he much enjoyed. He had a staff of excellent policemen, all of whom could handle dog teams in the winter, canoes in the summer, and the very useful "gas cars", small four-wheeled, gas engine powered open cars that railway work crews used up and down the railways.
His next move was to Winnipeg in 1931, to take charge of the eastern judicial district of the M.P.P..
In April 1932, the Manitoba Provincial Police role in the province was taken over by the RCMP, by agreement between the Dominion and Provincial Governments. As one of the terms of this agreement, the members of the M.P.P. who wished to make the transfer were taken on strength by the RCMP. Many members of the force, including Insp. Day, accepted the transfer.
Inspector Day remained in Winnipeg, with the same rank and responsibilities held at the end of his M.P.P. service, as head of the eastern judicial district until 1937, when he was transferred to the Nova Scotia Division of the RCMP in Halifax and appointed head of the Criminal Investigation Branch there.
After two years in Halifax, he was transferred to Ottawa for duty at RCMP headquarters, which was then in the Confederation Building. At this time, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent.
With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the RCMP undertook to provide a military police company for service overseas with the 1st Canadian Division. All men in the Company were volunteers for overseas duty, and all were experienced policemen. Several had served in the military in WW 1. Supt. Day was selected to be Officer Commanding the Company effective 20 October 1939, with the Army rank of Captain.
No. 1 Provost Company RCMP was assembled at the Rockliffe Barracks of the RCMP, equipped with army uniforms, weapons, and motorcycles, and sailed for England in the first contingent of troops from Canada in 1939. The Company was responsible for traffic control and coordination for all road movement of the large number of vehicles and equipment of the Division, and also police assistance to units in the investigation of crime.
Capt. Day served as OC with the Company in England until a Canadian Corps of two Divisions was put together, and then was appointed Corps Assistant Provost Marshall (APM), with the rank of Major. This position involved the coordination of Provost (or military police) functions for all Canadian Army formations in England.
Major Day returned to Canada on 5 March 1942, and resumed RCMP service with a posting to Calgary in May 1942 as Superintendent to head the Calgary Sub-Division of the Force.
In 1944, he was transferred to Regina to become Officer Commanding Depot Division, the training establishment for the RCMP.
Supt. Day took his retirement from the RCMP on 10 October, 1945 in Regina and settled down on a farm near Salmon Arm, BC , at the north end of the Okanagan Valley. He and Mrs. Day moved to a new home in the Armstrong area of BC in 1962.
William Richard (Dick) Day passed away on 6 February, 1971 in Vernon, BC at the age of 72, and is buried in the Armstrong Cemetery. His headstone is engraved with the words "He Served His Country".
Mrs. Nora Gladys Day passed away on 23 August 1973 and is buried beside her husband.
Their eldest daughter, Dorothy Gladys Miller, wife of Mr. Jack D. Miller passed away on 15 June 1999 at Markerville, Alberta, where they had farmed for many years. Their youngest daughter, Elizabeth Mary Chalmers, wife of Mr. J. David Chalmers, resides in West Vancouver, BC. Their son, Richard Mackreth Day , resides in London, Ontario with his wife Dorothy Leone (Conlin) of Toronto. Richard M. Day
1277 Hastings Drive
London, Ontario
N5X 2H8
(519)660-0985
