SAPPER DANIEL BAILEY
7209 – Tunnelling Reinforcements / 13th Field Company Engineers
In Brisbane, Queensland on October 12, 1897 Daniel Bailey was born the son of Walter and Lily (formerly Lewis) Bailey. Previous military experience had been gained with three years of Senior Cadets area 5B and four years with the Citizens Forces 5th Infantry and had returned all equipment. Medical Unfitness had caused him to be rejected for active service previously. He was working as a blacksmith’s striker in 1917.
At the Recruiting Depot in Brisbane on February 5, 1917 the single twenty year old applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. Attestation forms were completed giving his particulars of height as 178cms (5ft 10ins), weight of 65.9kgs (145lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-89cms (33-35ins). Complexion was dark with brown eyes testing to good vision and dark brown hair. Church of England was his religion. One distinctive mark was a mole on his right breast. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Lily Bailey of Everton Park, Enoggera, Brisbane. ‘The Oath’ was signed and taken the same day.
At the Enoggera camp, Brisbane Daniel went into basic training with the Unallotted Group on February 5 then joined the 11th Depot Battalion on March 3, 1917 and concluded Battalion training on March 29. The following day he was allotted to the Light Horse Depot Regiment for a month finishing on April 28, 1917 and transferred to the Miners’ Depot (1st M.D.) for further training there. Home Leave was granted from May 28 until May 30, 1917 and training continued until June 5, 1917. A transfer to the Miners’ camp at Seymour, Vic took place on June 7 where he joined ‘B Coy’ of the March, 1917 Reinforcements for further instruction to July 15, 1917. He was assigned the regimental number 7209 in the rank of Sapper and allotted to the Tunnelling Companies Reinforcements the following day in preparation for departure.
His Will was noted to be lodged with the Curator of Intestate Estates, George Street, Brisbane, Qld
The Reinforcements of 167 members embarked on HMAT A32 Themistocles from Melbourne, Victoria on August 4, 1917. The voyage across the Pacific was rough and stormy for several days causing sea sickness on board. As the ship entered the Tropics it became very hot. Colon, Panama was reached on August 31, 1917 and during the unavoidable eight day delay very heavy rain and muggy conditions were endured. The transport docked at Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 18, 1917 and three days later left to experience good weather across the Atlantic arriving in Glasgow, Scotland on October 2, 1917 after a fifty nine day voyage. The troops were detrained to Tidworth, England and marched into Nos. 1 and 3 camps at Parkhouse the next day for further training for the front.
On October 12, 1917 Sapper Bailey was admitted to the Parkhouse Military Hospital suffering from Mumps and transferred to the Isolation Hospital at No. 2 Camp. He was discharged to the Training Depot on October 31, 1917.
Transferred on November 7 and taken on strength at the Engineers’ Details Camp at Brightlingsea and his training was completed at that camp.
On January 31, 1918 the Reinforcements proceeded via Southampton to France arriving at the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles the following day. On February 4 he marched out to join the 13th Company Field Engineers and was taken on strength on February 9, 1918.
He was taken to the 4th Aust. Field Ambulance with Dental Caries and transferred to the 20th Casualty Clearing Station and then conveyed on A.T.17 to the 12th C.C.S. Ten days later returned to rejoin his unit.
On May 26, 1918 he went sick to the 4th Aust. Field Ambulance and admitted with Furunculosis [Boils] and after four days was discharged to duty.
When Peace was declared he was with his unit in the field and they remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with repairs to roads, bridges and drainage.
At the 13th A.F.A he was admitted on November 17, 1918 with Furunculosis then sent to the 61st C.C.S. and two days later transported on A.T.35 to 39th General Hospital at Havre. Hospital discharge to rejoin his unit took place on December 21, 1918.
He proceeded on Leave on January 17 to the United Kingdom and his time off was enjoyed from January 18 until February 1st, 1919. An extension of leave was granted in London until February 15 as arrangements were being made for Non-Military Employment (NME) and further extended to February 25, 1919.
NME took place from February 25 until April 4, 1919 with pay and subsistence for a course at the British School of Motoring in Motor Mechanism in Coventry Street, Piccadilly Circus W.1, London. Fees were $19.45 (£9.14.6d) plus suit and overalls. A further extension of leave was granted from April 12 until May 1, 1919 with pay, subsistence and fees of $10 (£5) to continue the course. To further his curriculum another leave extension was granted to attend the Motor Engineer’s course at the Army and Navy Corps Supply in Francis Street, Victoria, S.W. from May 5 to August 1, 1919 with pay, subsistence of $3.20 (32/-) per week for the extension and transfer with a deduction of $1.49 (14/11d) for overalls. The course was completed and although he received no diploma or certificate got a ‘Very Satisfactory’ report.
A retransfer order from Headquarters to the 13th F.C.E. commenced on August 1 and the Furlough Depot granted leave until August 16, 1919. He was to report to Headquarters and then the No. 2 Group Camp at Sutton Veny.
Sapper Bailey embarked on the H.T. Euripides on September 9, 1919 for the voyage home to Australia. His mother was notified on October 14, 1919 he was on his way home. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on October 24, 1919 and he returned to Brisbane, (1st M.D.) for discharge.
Military discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on November 24, 1919.
In the Spring of 1921 he returned to England and married Rose Caroline Painter, daughter of William and Sarah Painter, in Edmonton, Middlesex.
The British War Medal (30884) and the Victory Medal (29204) were awarded to Sapper 7209 Daniel Bailey, Tunnelling Reinforcements / 13th Field Company Engineers for his service to his country.
In 1930 their residence was 102 Boundary Road, Peakhurst, NSW and he was a Boilermaker’s Helper. They had moved to 559 Homer Street, Earlwood by 1933 and were at 6 Olive Street, Campsie in 1936. From 1943 to 1958 they resided at Tower Street, Panania, NSW and his occupation was a Boilermaker’s Assistant.
On March 4, 1957 he wrote from 176 Tower Street, Panania, NSW to Base Records requesting a copy of his parchment Military Discharge as the one he had was ‘very old and worn’ and any medals that were due to him. Base Records replied on April 3 that if his Discharge copy was an original parchment they would replace it for 25cents (2/6d) and to return his copy for cancellation.
His war medals were issued immediately to him and they were receipted for on April 9, 1957. The same day he signed a Statutory Declaration at Redfern, NSW declaring he had lost his Parchment Discharge and Returned Service Badge. The reason for the loss was declared as:
I returned to England in 1921 to be married. To be entitled to unemployment benefits I had to find 14 weeks employment, I joined the Army (overwritten word) Corps. While on leave my tent was shifted, and my bag with my Military Discharge and Returned Badge was lost.
On April 18, 1957 a parchment Discharge was issued to him.
He wrote again to Base Records on May 6, 1957 acknowledging the receipt of his Discharge and returned a postal note of 33cents (3/3d) as payment for his R.S. Badge. He receipted delivery of his R.S. Badge (131200) on May 11, 1957.
On January 31, 1958 a Statement of his Service was sent to the Repatriation Department in Sydney, NSW.
Daniel Bailey passed away on July 26, 1958 in Sydney, NSW aged 60 years. The following notices were published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday July 28, 1958:
His grave is located in Section K of the Rookwood Independent Cemetery in Grave No. 2089.
Rose Caroline, his wife was interred in Grave No. 2092 on January 31, 1979 aged 88 years.
© Donna Baldey 2010