No.31405, Private, Frederick BAILEY
Aged 32
|
Frederick Bailey was born in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire (Basford Q2-1884 7B:231), son of William and Ann BAILEY (née ARNOLD).
1891 census...Aged 7, he was at Sand Street, Soham with his father William BAILEY [46] general dealer born Wicken; his mother Ann [48] born Isleham; brothers James A [18] farm labourer born Soham, John William [16] carpenter's apprentice born Isleham, Charles E [13] farm labourer born Upton, Nottinghamshire and George H [9] born Wicken. 1901 census...Aged 16, a stationer's assistant, he was at Moat Terrace, Soham with his parents, father now a watch and clock repairer. 1911 census...Aged 26, a watch and clock repairer, he was at Pratt Street, Soham with his parents. In Q4-1911 he married Florence Aylard CATER, later of King's Parade, Soham. The pension card (1917) has dependants pension to his father William BAILEY at Cross Green, Soham, but Soldiers Effects has his dependant as widow Florence. A second pension card has his widow Florence and daughter Elsie Norah (29-7-1914) at King's Parade, Soham |
|
He enlisted in Newmarket. The 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment after the Battle of the Ancre (the last fling of the Battle of the Somme) were to spend two miserable months in the trenches in the Serre sector. Casualties were not high, the battalion lost just 4 men on the 28th November, but sickness took its toll. It was actually not unknown for a man to fall from exhaustion and drown in the waterfilled trenches Local press report:- The news of the death of Pte. Fred Bailey,Suffolk Regt., was received in the town with much regret. Information first came to hand indirectly, but a day or two later a letter was received from the Chaplain to the effect that Pte. Bailey was killed by a shell when out with a working party. The writer, in expressing his heartfelt sympathy, said:-"He always behaved splendidly in the performance of his duty, like the brave man he was. His body was brought down from the trenches by his comrades, and was laid to rest in a military cemetery." Attested under Lord Derby's scheme, the late Pte.F.Bailey joined his regiment last June, and had only been in France about three weeks. He was an active member of the Soham Primitive Methodist Church. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved widow and baby girl.
commemorated on the family headstone in Soham photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
