Bailey, A J

ALFRED JAMES BAILEY

Remembered with honour Pozieres Memorial: Panel 61 to 64.

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.

There is an article about and a Death announcement for Alfred in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 4 May 1918.

Son of Thomas and Martha Elizabeth (nee PARSONS) BAILEY of Watford.

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.