John Charles Bailes (1896-1917)
Item
Dublin Core
Type
Title
Contributor
Date
Publisher
Format
Language
World War One Veterans Item Type Metadata
Name
Birth Date
Birthplace
Service Number
Enlistment Date
Next of Kin
Mother
Address at time of Enlistment
Southfields, London
Occupation
Marital Status
Death Date
Place of Burial
Place of burial has him listed as J.9.d.30.20. Sheet Becelaere 1/10,000. No known grave.
Commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Biographical Text
No.295 John Charles Bailes
John Bailes' name first appeared in the Werribee Shire Banner, 3 February 1916, p.1. in the list of volunteers for the Australian Expeditionary Forces and Reinforcements. He was listed under Werribee.
National Archives of Australia display 13 Bailes, which enlisted in Australia and out of those, only five enlisted in Victoria. There were two who had an initial of J, but neither of them were born in Werribee, both were born in England.
The only member who has any link to Werribee was John Charles Bailes. A letter in his Army documents was from R. R. Kerr Government Dairy Supervisor. He was inquiring about Sergeant J. C. Bailes who was killed in action. John was employed at the Research Station in Werribee. A confirmation letter was sent to Mr Kerr advising him who his next of kin was and that he had enlisted in Melbourne on 15 March 1915.
War Service
John Charles Bailes was born in London England around June 1896. He enlisted on the 15 March 1915 in Melbourne.
His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Alice Bailes who lived in 157 Engadine Street, Southfields, London. The address was changed later to 125 Tranmere Road, Earlsfield, London.
He was single on enlistment, but records in his files show that he married Alice Busby on 2 June 1917 at St Barnabas Church, Wimbledon London. There seems to be some confusion in his files regarding this.
His unit was 22nd Battalion, A Company and he embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915.
30 August 1915 - Proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) at Gallipoli.
2 Occtobe 1916 - Promoted to Corporal.
29 October 1916 - Joined the Cadet Training Battalion. 11 November 1916 marched into the sixth Training Battalion from overseas.
23 January to 2 February 1917 - Attended a refresher course at the School of Musketry Hayling Island that covered the use of the Hotchkiss Machine gun.
If his records are correct, he was married on 2 June 1917.
19 June 1917 - Proceeded overseas to France via Southampton.
27 July 1917 - Promoted to Sergeant.
John Charles Bailes was killed in action on 22 September 1917 at Garter Point, Belgium. There was a statement from CPL Emerson with the following information: "They were on Post Duty at Westhoek Ridge, Sept 22nd 1917. There were four killed and four wounded at the time by a high explosive shell. They were buried just outside of where they were killed."
Place of burial has him listed as J.9.d.30.20. Sheet Becelaere 1/10,000. No known grave.
Medals and Entitlements:
- 1914/15 Star
- British War Medal
- Victory Medal
Bibliography
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/index.html
http://trove.nla.gov.au
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