S9880
BAYLEY, Leonard
| Service Number: | 2800 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Alberton, South Australia, 1889 |
| Home Town: | Alberton, Port Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Alberton Public School |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 15 December 1931, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Queenstown Alberton Public School Great War Honor Roll, South Australian Garden of Remembrance |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2800, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2800, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 2800, 50th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Leonard Bayley's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Leonard Bayley was born in 1889 in Alberton, South Australia. Leonard Bayley attended Alberton Public School. Prior to the war, he was living at Alberton and worked as a labourer. At the time of his enlistment, he was unmarried, and his father John Bayley was listed as his next of kin.
On the 8th July, 1915, Leonard Bayley enlisted to the AIF at Keswick SA, at time of his enlistment he was registered as a 5 ft 5 (165cm) male with fair hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. Originally, Leonard Bayley was assigned to the 10th Battalion but was transferred and taken on strength 26th of February 1916 to the 50th Battalion later
Bayley Leonard embarked on active service on the A15 Star of England on September 21st, 1915. On the 18th of October 1915, he arrived in Suez Canal in Egypt to be trained and to defend the Canal. At the Suez Canal, he fought for 2 months against Ottoman forces before disembarking on Alexandria ex Hudroe to be transferred to the 50th battalion, part of the 13th Brigade in the 4th Australian Division. Where he joined the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) on the 5th of June 1916.
One of the most significant battles he fought was the battle of Mouquet Farm in France. During this battle, the 50th Battalion was heavily engaged in battle from August and September in 1916. On September 4th, 1916, Bayley suffered an injury to his face and left arm, then he was sent to the 13th Stationary hospital Boulogne, France, where he received treatment. He was later discharged on September 16th, 1916 to Base Details. The next day he was taken on Strength with the 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot in Etaples.
Bayley became unwell and was sent to the 26th General Hospital with otitis media, a severe ear infection. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to England on October 23, 1916, and admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a ruptured eardrum (likely caused by prolonged artillery fire in the frontlines). He was discharged to furlough 22nd November 1916 and reported back to the No.1 Command Depot at Perham Downs on 8th December 1916.
On December 8th, 1916, he was classified as B2A, meaning that he was fit for limited service, but as his condition worsened, he was finally classified C2 (unfit for service). He was then sent to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth.
On September 27th, 1917, he was transported back to Australia medically unfit. On December 4th, 1917, he was discharged from the AIF in Adelaide due to deafness in both ears.
Bayley died 15th December 1931 and is buried at Cheltenham Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Alberton Public School Great War Honour Roll and the South Australian Garden of Remembrance.
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