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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. Charles William Bailey
British Army 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards
from:Swinton
(d.26th Oct 1914)
Charles Bailey was my great great grandfather, he served with the 2nd Battalion the Coldstream Guards having enlisted at Wath. He was killed in action on the 26th of October 1914 and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium, panel 11.
Pte. Charles Bailey
British Army 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment
from:Ruabon
(d.15th October 1917)
Charles Bailey was the son of John and Anne Bailey. He was born about 1895 in St Martins, Shropshire. He is commemorated on the St Martins Village War Memorial.
Pte. Charles Bailey
British Army 9th Btn. Kings Own (Lancashire) Regiment
Sgt. Edward Bailey
British Army 7th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:Dublin
(d.16th Aug 1917)
Edward Bailey was born in Dublin and later enlisted there. The 7th Battalion came under the command of 16th (Irish) Division, and on 20th December 1915 landed at le Havre. Edward Bailey was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Langemarck in Flanders. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
Act.L/Cpl. Edward William Bailey
British Army 107th Field Company Royal Engineers
from:Folkestone, Kent,
(d.21 December 1918)
Rfmn. Ernest Bailey
British Army 2nd Btn. Rifle Brigade
from:Kentish Town
(d.31st Jul 1917)
My great uncle, Ernest Bailey, was 19 years old when he died in the Battle of Passchendaele.
Pte. Francis William Bailey
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
from:Long Lawford
Enlistment and training
Francis William Bailey was enlisted as a conscript under the Military Service Act of 1916. This Act deemed all males who reached the age of 18 years to have enlisted. They could choose if they preferred to go into the Royal Navy but other than that had no choice in the matter of regiment or unit to which they were assigned. Enlistment was a two stage process. First, the recruit, who was called up in accordance with details given during a process of National Registration in 1915, would attend a session where he would be medically examined and attested for service. He would then be placed on the army reserve and return home to await a mobilisation notice. The information already listed provides a context for his early service. He reached 18 in October 1917 and could have been called for attestation and then mobilised at any time after that.
The 53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment was created on 27 October 1917 in a reorganisation of the army’s infantry training structure. The Young Soldier units carried out the 14 week basic training course, after which the soldier would be passed on to a Graduated Battalion. The 53rd Battalion was based at Chisledon but moved in early November 1917 to Larkhill, both places being on Salisbury Plain. For Francis to be with the battalion on 7 February 1918 probably implies that he had not joined the battalion straight away after his 18th birthday but it was clearly not long after that. It was at this time not legally possible to send a conscripted soldier overseas until he was aged 19. The 18 year-old trainees were held in England, carrying on training or any other useful duty, once they had completed their basic training. The young recruits were known as “A4 men”, after a medical category that defined them as fit in all respects except age. Had these conditions continued, Francis would not have been in France until late in 1918. It is possible that he went straight from the 53rd Battalion to France, but more likely is that he had passed for a brief time to either 51st or 52nd (Graduated) Battalion. Both moved to Lowestoft in January 1918.
On 21 March 1918, the enemy launched a huge attack against British Fifth and Third Armies. So great were the losses and so few the reserves that an emergency act was carried in Parliament which enabled men who were 18½ years or more and who had more than six months training to be sent overseas. They were hurriedly despatched to France. We believe that Francis was among them.
Either just before embarkation or on arrival in France, Francis was renumbered to Private 50854. By examining the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, it is certain that men numbered nearby were in France by late May 1918 although of those posted to 1st Battalion none lost their lives before August.
Service in France
On arrival in France, Francis was posted to join his regiment’s 1st Battalion. Later in our report we have provided an outline of the history of the battalion. It is reasonable to assume that Francis moved with it and took part in its actions until he was taken prisoner. Unfortunately it is not possible to tell solely from his number his specific role or which of the four Companies he was posted to. It is not easy to discover when Francis arrived or was captured. The war diary kept by the battalion does not name other ranks. We have checked it throughout the period March to November 1918.
Small numbers of reinforcements arrived at intervals during late March and April 1918, and in larger drafts during May. There was a particularly large draft of 130 men that arrived on 14 May. From June to August, there were once again small numbers dribbling in.
There are relatively few occasions when men were reported missing. These figures undoubtedly include some men were later confirmed or presumed dead, but the remainder will have been taken prisoner:
- 15 April 1918: 13 missing (along with 31 dead and 183 wounded) in desperate defensive fight near Hinges.
- 11 June 1918: 1 man reported as wounded and missing from a patrol.
- 30 June 1918: 1 man reported missing from a raiding party but believed to have been taken to a Casualty Clearing Station.
- 1 July 1918: 1 man reported missing. Battalion was bombarded as it was being relieved and moving to rest.
- 9 August 1918: Second Lieutenant P. Horsley and 9 men missing when their patrol, advancing near Bobeme, found itself surrounded by the enemy. Three men escaped back to battalion.
- 30 August 1918: 24 men reported missing after a disorganised attack near Remy.
- 24 October 1918: 2 men missing after an attack near Verchain. These are the last to be reported as such before the Armistice.
Given that it appears that men with numbers near to Francis were not with 1st battalion before May, clearly the most likely times for him to have been captured were on 9 and 30 August.
Return from POW camp, discharge from the army and after the war
Although the medals documents give no information, Francis would have been discharged by being transferred to Class Z Army Reserve some time in 1919. This was the standard route out of military service for wartime volunteers and conscripts to the regular army. It meant that the soldier could return to civilian life but subject to being recalled if required, for twelve months after discharge. In the event, no Class Z men were recalled and the Class was abolished on 31 March 1920. His campaign medals were sent to him automatically. It was not necessary to claim them. The British War and Victory Medals were usually despatched in 1921. They were to recognise that the soldier had left his native shore and entered a theatre of war, respectively.
Men could make a claim as to any form of disability or medical problem arising from their war service and, subject to the approval of a Medical Board, were usually awarded a pension, the value of which related to their marital and family status and their degree of disablement.
Cpl. Francis Samuel Bailey
British Army South Staffordshire Regiment
My grandfather Sam Bailey enlisted on the 11th March 1914, with the South Staffordshire Regiment. He was a Lewis machine gunner and later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. On 29th June 1917 he took control of his unit due to his DCO being wounded. He overran the enemy and held the position whilst reinforcements were brought in. He was awarded a medal for Bravery In The Field. His demob was in Feb 1919. I have all his medals, enlistment form, active service pay book and demob notice. Along with this there are photographs, notice from his CO of his award and a newspaper notice.
Pte Frank Bailey
British Army 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
from:44, Sturry Rd., Canterbury
(d.28th Jul 1917)
Bailey, Frank. Private, 19/1097, Died on 28th July 1917. Aged 28 years.
Buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery, in grave I. C. 9.
Son of Ellen M. Bailey, of 44, Sturry Rd., Canterbury, and the late Mark Bailey.
Not to be confused with COULSON. A.W. Also shown as 19/1097 on CWGC records, there is believed to be an error in Btn records.
From the 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour.
Mjr. Frank "Bill" Bailey DCM.
British Army 1st Battalion Essex Regiment
from:Mauritius
My grandad, Frank Bailey, joined up in 1901 and immediately after basic training was dispatched to South Africa in Mounted Infantry Unit (formed to play those Boers at their own mobile guerilla game). He was a representative of Essex Regiment at Edward VII's coronation in Aug 1902, and posted to India (1902-06), Burma (1906-08) Ireland (1908-09), India (1909-13), Mauritius (1913-14) returning to Warley in Dec 1914.
As Sergeant, he was on 'W' Beach at Gallipoli (Cape Helles) on 25/4/1915, Beaumont Hamel (Somme) as RSM on 1/7/1916, aided defence of Monchy-le-Preux on 14/4/1917, was mentioned in Haig's dispatches on 25/5/1917, awarded Serbian Cross of Kara George, with Swords, 1st Class on 23/7/1917, gassed at Langemarck (Belgium) on 26/9/1917, and awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal at Battle of Cambrai and took part in the final push in 1918.
After WW1 he was posted Cork (1920-22) during the Irish "war of independence" along with Major Percival (Battalion Intel Officer and later Lieutenant General who surrendered at Singapore in 1941), went with the League of Nations Peace Keeping force to supervise the Saarbrucken Plebiscite (98% voted to go back to Nazi Germany and there was typical trouble during it!) in Jan 1935. He retired in 1937 as Major, re-engaged briefly in 1941 as a trainer for North London and Essex 'ack ack' units. His long and distinguished career with the regiment is recorded along with some history in my book A Major Soldier
Pte George William Bailey
British Army 19th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.27th March 1918)
Bailey, George William. Private, 60189, Killed 27th March 1918,
Remembered on the Pozieres Memorial panel 16 to 18.
From the Northumberland Fusiliers Roll of Honour
Pte George Horace Bailey
British Army 1/5th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
from:Worksop
(d.1st Jul 1916)
I have George Bailey's memorial plaque. It has been handed down to me from his wife who never had children of her own, but looked after my mother during and after the second world war. She was a wonderful woman and was in all, apart from blood, a massive part of our family. As she and George never had children she treated us as her own. She married George at a very young age, probably due to the fear of not seeing each other again with him going to war. As George has no next of kin that I know of, I feel honoured to take the place of his great-grandson and remember him for the sacrifice he gave for me. I would love to know more about him and his pals, if anyone has anymore information.
George Arthur Bailey
British Army 20th Battalion Manchester Regiment
(d.1st July 1916)
FM Harry Bailey
Mercantile Marine S.S. Trefusis
(d.6th July 1917)
Fireman Bailey is buried in the Leghorn British Cemetery in Italy.
Gnr. Harry Bailey
British Army 41st Brigade, 16th Battery Royal Field Artillery
from:Stoke on Trent
(d.4th Jul 1918)
Pte. Harry Bailey
British Army 30th Coy. Machine Gun Corps
from:Croydon
(d.21st Mar 1918)
L/Cpl. Herbert Bailey
British Army 14th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Stockton
(d.19th Dec 1915)
J. J. Bailey
Army Durham Light Infantry
Cattleman. J. Bailey
Mercantile Marine SS Alnwick Castle
from:Dublin
(d.19th Mar 1917)
J Bailey drowned aged 52 after the Alnwick Castle was torpedoed by the German submarine U-81 in the Atlantic Ocean. He is commemorated on Tower Hill Memorial, London.
James Bailey
British Army 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters
James Bailey send a POW acknowledgment card, while at the German POW camp at Limburg, addressed to The Secretary, Soldiers Fund, Nottingham, England. The text thanks the organisation for a parcel and mentions there are three others from the Sherwood Foresters held with him. The card is in pencil and dated 29th March 1915, the Limburg circular date stamp is 7th April 1915.
Cpl. James Henry Bailey
British Army Royal Engineers
from:Stoke on Trent
When Henry Bailey was tunnelling at Ypres, he told an officer that he could hear the Germans tunnelling, but was told to go about his business. The Germans blew up the trench and there were no survivors. The British had broken through into the German tunnel, and there was hand to hand fighting in the tunnels.
Pte. John Robinson Bailey
British Army 6th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment
from:72 Rumley Road, Burnley, Lancashire.
(d.8th Apr 1916)
Private John Robinson Bailey served with the 6th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment during WW1 and was killed in action on the 8th April 1916, aged 46. He is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial, Iraq.
Pte. John Thomas Bailey
British Army 6th Btn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry
from:Market Drayton
(d.6th Sep 1916)
Pte. John Robertson Bailey
British Army 6th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment
from:72 Rumley Road, Burnley, Lancashire
(d.8th Apr 1916)
John Bailey died aged 46, and is commemorated on the Basra War Memorial in Iraq.
Pte. John Bailey
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
from:Barnshaw Cottage, Mobberley, Cheshire.
(d.14/15 Oct 1918)
Pte. John Bailey
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Munster Fusiliers
from:Castlemaine, Co. Kerry.
(d.17th June 1916)
Private Bailey was the son of James and Elizabeth Bailey of 40 Strand St., Tralee; husband of Honoria Bailey, of Keel Castledrum, Castlemaine, Co. Kerry.
He was 29 when he died and is buried twelve yards west of the entrance to the Keel Burial Ground, Kilgarrylander, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
Pte. John Henry Bailey
British Army 11th Btn. Border Regiment
from:Walthamstow
(d.28th Feb 1917)
I only found out about my great great great uncle Henry Bailey after my mother died and I found his identity disc and photos. In amongst these was a photo postcard written to a close family friend asking if he could pop in for a visit as he would be going away on the following Monday. This was written on the 5th of August 1916. Just 6 months before he died of wounds in France.
Pte. Joseph Bailey
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers
from:Dublin
(d.25th Apr 1915)
Joseph Bailey was the s on of Thomas and Mary Bailey, of 19, Coleraine St., Dublin. He was killed in action in Gallipoli age 23 and is remembered on the Helles Memorial in Turkey.
Pte. L. Bailey
British Army 9th Btn. Border Regiment
AM1. L. K.H. Bailey
Royal Flying Corps 1st Bde. HQ.
(d.18th Sep 1917)
L. K.H. Bailey was killed in action on the 18th of September 1917. He is buried in the Lillers Communal Cemetery in France.
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