Name
Alfred James Bailey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/04/1918
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
R/13779
King's Royal Rifle Corps
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 61 to 64.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford,
Not on the Hertford memorials
Pre War
Born in 1892 in Hertford son of Mrs. Martha Elizabeth (nee Parsons) Bailey later living in 29 Benskin Road, Watford, Herts.
His parents married 3 August 1891 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. Thomas died 1940 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 17 October in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Martha died 1951 in Watford aged 79, and was buried 29 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Alfred was born 29 November 1894 in Bushey, Herts, and baptised 11 January 1895 at St James’, Bushey. He attended Watford Fields School; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 27 November 1906 to 30 November 1908.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Bushey, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, aged 16 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London 3 June 1915 for the Duration of the War: a labourer aged 21, 5’7″ tall, of Watford. He was promoted to Corporal 26 November 1915, and to Sergeant 20 March 1916. He was transported to England 13 October 1916 on H.S. Canberra and was in the Hospital, Rainhill, Lancs, 14 October to 14 November 1916 with a gun shot wound below the left eye. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action between 21 March and 2 April 1918.
Additional Information
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Alfred in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 4 May 1918.
His brother Thomas died 20 September 1917 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
