2nd Lt
Donald William Bailey
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1894 |
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Place of birth: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Second Lieutenant |
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Service number: / |
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Units: — Gloucestershire Regiment, 1st Bn. attd. 12th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Glencorse Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: 44 Row: C Grave: 4 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Donald William Bailey was born in 1894 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He was the son of William Thomas and Mary Lizzie Annie Bailey. During the First World War, he served in the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
On 4 October 1917, the Battle of Broodseinde, as part of the Battle of Passchendaele, was fought. The Allies aimed to advance closer to Passchendaele, and the Broodseinde Ridge had to be captured. At the time of the Battle of Broodseinde, Donald was not assigned to the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Instead, he was attached to the 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
At 6 a.m., the attack began. The 12th Battalion fell under the 5th Division and remained in reserve for the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. The 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment itself supported the attacking troops of the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. At 6:40 a.m., the 12th Battalion (excluding A Company, which was assigned stretcher-bearing tasks) was to move forward and take over the line held by the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. At 10:10 a.m., orders were received for C Company to reinforce the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. During these various operations, the 12th Battalion endured heavy artillery fire.
Donald William Bailey fell while performing his officer duties on 4 October. After the war, his body was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot 44, Row C, Grave E.
On 4 October 1917, the Battle of Broodseinde, as part of the Battle of Passchendaele, was fought. The Allies aimed to advance closer to Passchendaele, and the Broodseinde Ridge had to be captured. At the time of the Battle of Broodseinde, Donald was not assigned to the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Instead, he was attached to the 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment.
At 6 a.m., the attack began. The 12th Battalion fell under the 5th Division and remained in reserve for the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. The 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment itself supported the attacking troops of the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. At 6:40 a.m., the 12th Battalion (excluding A Company, which was assigned stretcher-bearing tasks) was to move forward and take over the line held by the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. At 10:10 a.m., orders were received for C Company to reinforce the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. During these various operations, the 12th Battalion endured heavy artillery fire.
Donald William Bailey fell while performing his officer duties on 4 October. After the war, his body was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot 44, Row C, Grave E.
Sources 5
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12 Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1580/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Service Medal and Awards Rolls, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 109. Sources used |
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Roll of Honour, Cloucestershire, Bishops Cleeve War Memorial https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Gloucestershire/BishopsCleeve.html Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461791 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=8a8b7af2-991f-4552-b3f2-3ec7cd22f73c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/125867 |