Alfred Bailey

Corporal - Service No.116896 - Royal Garrison Artillery

Alfred Bailey was born on the 19th of July 1884 in East Carleton, Norfolk, the son of William Bailey and his wife Jane (Browne). He was the youngest of four children, all boys, William (1876), Ernest (1879), and Christmas (1881). William and Jane married in late 1872, probably at Hethel, Norfolk. Although William was working as an agricultural labourer in Hethel at the time of his marriage his first two sons, William and Ernest, were born in Hull, Yorkshire. By the time Christmas was born in late 1881 (presumably on 25th December) the family were living in East Carleton, Norfolk although Christmas was baptised at Hethel on 3rd February 1882. Alfred's mother, Jane, died in 1895 when he was just eleven years old and Alfred would have left school at about the same time and started work on the land.

Records show a number of Alfred Baileys getting married in the right area at about the right time but we have no knowledge as to which, if any, is this particular Alfred so no details as to his marriage and any offspring can be given. We can be fairly certain that Alfred died in 1973 just a few months short of his 89th birthday.

Alfred joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in about 1916 with Service No. 116896. His army records do not survive but we know he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal and the Medal Rolls record him as having served with 259 Siege Battery with the rank of corporal.

Return to WW1 1914-1918