Pte
Harry Stathion Bailey
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 26/04/1895 |
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Place of birth: Round Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada |
General information
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Profession: Railroader |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 223010 |
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Enlistment date: 30/10/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 85th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Vienna Cottages - Stein Hof, Passendale, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XLII Row: C Grave: 6 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Harry Stathion Bailey was born on April 26, 1895, in Round Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was the son of Bertha Bailey. On October 30, 1915, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Halifax. He was assigned to the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders).
In October 1917, the 85th Battalion was located in the Ypres area to participate in the Battle of Passchendaele. On October 28, 1917, the 85th Battalion moved towards the front line near Passchendaele. They took the light railway from Brandhoek to Ypres and then marched to Potijze. From there, the battalion proceeded to Seine Corner and positions slightly beyond Hillside Farm. Upon arriving at the front, it became clear that the right flank, held by the 44th Battalion (Manitoba), had been broken by a German counterattack. D Company of the 85th Battalion was sent to the right flank and, together with the 44th Battalion, managed to reclaim the lost positions. Following this success, the various companies of the 85th Battalion were deployed along the front line.
On October 29, the plans for the October 30 attack were distributed among the officers, and B, C, and A Companies were led to their respective starting points. D Company remained in reserve and would only be deployed if absolutely necessary.
On October 30, at 5:50 a.m., the attack towards Passchendaele began. The three companies were immediately met with heavy machine-gun and rifle fire as they left their shelters. The Allied artillery had had virtually no effect on the German positions. The Canadian soldiers were forced to advance from crater to crater. Intense firefights occurred between the German and Canadian troops. The number of casualties quickly rose, and the decision was made to send D Company forward as reinforcements. Two platoons of D Company advanced under the command of Major Anderson. A third platoon decided on its own initiative to join the attack. As the companies moved into the battle, the German line began to collapse. The objectives were secured by the now heavily depleted 85th Battalion around 6:38 a.m. Vienna Cottage, along with its field gun, was captured, and the new front line was consolidated. Several attempts at a counterattack were repelled. On the evening of October 31, the battalion was withdrawn from the line.
Harry Stathion Bailey fell on October 30 near the railway and Vienna Cottage. His body was reburied after the war in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XLII, Row C, Grave 6.
In October 1917, the 85th Battalion was located in the Ypres area to participate in the Battle of Passchendaele. On October 28, 1917, the 85th Battalion moved towards the front line near Passchendaele. They took the light railway from Brandhoek to Ypres and then marched to Potijze. From there, the battalion proceeded to Seine Corner and positions slightly beyond Hillside Farm. Upon arriving at the front, it became clear that the right flank, held by the 44th Battalion (Manitoba), had been broken by a German counterattack. D Company of the 85th Battalion was sent to the right flank and, together with the 44th Battalion, managed to reclaim the lost positions. Following this success, the various companies of the 85th Battalion were deployed along the front line.
On October 29, the plans for the October 30 attack were distributed among the officers, and B, C, and A Companies were led to their respective starting points. D Company remained in reserve and would only be deployed if absolutely necessary.
On October 30, at 5:50 a.m., the attack towards Passchendaele began. The three companies were immediately met with heavy machine-gun and rifle fire as they left their shelters. The Allied artillery had had virtually no effect on the German positions. The Canadian soldiers were forced to advance from crater to crater. Intense firefights occurred between the German and Canadian troops. The number of casualties quickly rose, and the decision was made to send D Company forward as reinforcements. Two platoons of D Company advanced under the command of Major Anderson. A third platoon decided on its own initiative to join the attack. As the companies moved into the battle, the German line began to collapse. The objectives were secured by the now heavily depleted 85th Battalion around 6:38 a.m. Vienna Cottage, along with its field gun, was captured, and the new front line was consolidated. Several attempts at a counterattack were repelled. On the evening of October 31, the battalion was withdrawn from the line.
Harry Stathion Bailey fell on October 30 near the railway and Vienna Cottage. His body was reburied after the war in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XLII, Row C, Grave 6.
Sources 5
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461792/harry-stathion-bailey/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 152 - 153. Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 345 - 25) https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/index Sources used |
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War diaries: 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4944, Microfilm reel number: T-10751--T-10752, File number: 454) https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/index Sources used |
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War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 149) https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/index Sources used |