BAILEY Joseph Edwin

Joseph Bailey appears on the 1911 Census as Joseph Edward Bailey living with Mrs Reynolds, Timberhonger Lane, Bromsgrove.

The following report appears in the Bromsgrove Weekly Messenger, 9th March 1918:
Official information was received last week by Mrs Reynolds, Battlefield Cottage, Kidderminster Road, of the death of Private J Bailey (late of Timberhonger). Previous to joining the colours, Private Bailey resided with Mrs Reynolds, his parents both having died when he was young. He joined the forces on 26th December 1914 and had seen nearly 2 years active service in France. He was reported missing last October and nothing had been heard of him till last week, when the official news came to hand. Before joining the colours he was employed by Mr Gill, New House Farm, Upton Warren. He was 30 years of age. The report includes a photograph of Joseph Bailey.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Geoff Sullivan:
Joseph Edwin Bailey was born at Ash field, Gloucestershire. He resided with Mrs Reynolds at Battlefields Cottage, Kidderminster Road. Both parents
having died when he was young. He enlisted in the 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment at Bromsgrove, probably around September 1914.

What survives of his army records tell that he disembarked on 26th August 1915 at Gallipoli with the reinforcements for the battalion which had suffered heavy losses on 8th August 1915, after the main landing on 25th April. He
survived the disastrous 9 month Gallipoli campaign. After the failed Gallipoli campaign was evacuated in December and January, the 4th battalion landed at Marseilles on 20th March 1916.

He was killed in action in France on 23rd April 1917 at Monchy Le Preux in the Arras offensive of 9the April to 16th May 1917. Joseph has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Joseph Bailey has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Arras Memorial.