James Bailey
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
James was the eldest of seven children born to John Bailey and Martha Rowland in 1893. They married at Martha’s home town of Bilsthorpe on 18 May 1891 where John became a gamekeeper. His first four children were born in Nottinghamshire but due to his work, the family spent a short time in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire before returning to Notts around 1904. By 1911 they were settled in at Keepers Cottage in Bestwood where John continued as a gamekeeper and the two eldest boys, James and Frank, worked as farm labourers later becoming gamekeepers.
Both James and Frank Bailey joined the Army soon after war was declared. Frank was attested for the Bedfordshire Regt on 9th Sept 1915 and although reported fit, he was discharged under para.392 (iii) Kings regulations with contused fingers of the left hand on 30 November 1914. James, however, joined the Cameronian Regiment (Scottish Rifles) 2nd Battalion. He was drafted out to France on the 16 March 1915 and after less than 2 months was killed in action on 9 May of that year. As his body was never recovered he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, in Belgium. He was eligible for the 1915 Star, British and Victory medals.
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