BAILEY, William Richard
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | 4 February 1883, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation: | Dental Surgeon |
| Died: | Adelaide, 3 August 1952, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (2), South Australian Garden of Remembrance |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Nov 1915: | Involvement 6th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1915: | Embarked 6th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Persic, Melbourne | |
| 6 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
William Richard Bailey was born on the 4th of February 1883 to Alice Harriet Davies, residing at 2 Caldwell St, Adelaide. Before the war, Bailey pursued a career in dentistry and trained as a dental surgeon. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania, qualifying as a Doctor in Dental Surgery. He also sat the 1st & 2nd Professional Exam at the Royal College of Surgeons in England, where he received his Licentiate in Dental Surgery. He then worked as a dental practitioner until his enlistment at the age of 32 years and 8 months, on 9 November 1915. Upon enlistment, Bailey was recorded as 5ft 6 and 167 lbs. He was proficient in English, German, French, as well as conversational Italian. Additionally, he had also served 4 years in the ANA Corps. Bailey was recommended for the AIF as a Lieutenant and joined the 6th Field Artillery Brigade as a Dental Officer. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board the HMAT A34 Persic on 22 November 1915. He disembarked in the Middle East
On 18 February 1916, Bailey was assigned to the 3rd Field Ambulance for dental duties, later transferring to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital in March. After being admitted for pyrexia fever of unknown origin, he proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force in France, disembarking at the beginning of April. In June contracted conjunctivitis and was treated in hospital. He was discharged to duty on 30th June 1916
Bailey was named Honorary Captain on 13 December. Days later, on 18 December, he was hospitalised for bronchitis. He was transferred to England for treatment and convalescence. In late January, Bailey married Edith Mary, residing in Doncaster. The following month, on 19 February, he proceeded overseas to France. He transferred from the 3rd Field Ambulance to the Australian Divisional Base Depot. He left for Etaples on 4 April and was officially promoted to Captain on the 6th of April. He was also transferred from the 5th Dental Unit to the 1st Dental Unit.
Towards the end of September, Bailey transferred to the Australian Army Dental Corps and was later posted to the 70th Dental Unit. From October to November, he served on attachment in Bedford and Sutton Veny before being assigned to the Machine Gun Corps Training Depot in Grantham on 2 December.
In April 1918, he was hospitalised for an undiagnosed sickness in London and was discharged to duty on 3 May 1918. Afterwards, Bailey was attached to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital for duty in Harefield. He contracted Influenza in June but was released within two days.
Due to the Cessation of Hostilities, Bailey returned to Australia from Shropshire on the 1st of April 1919. After the war, he and his wife had two children, Alice and Harold, and settled down at 327 South Road, Black Forest.
William Bailey died at the age of 69 on the 3rd of August 1952. His funeral was held two days later on Tuesday, and he was cremated at the West Terrace Crematorium. His name has been commemorated in the South Australian Garden of Remembrance and on the Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board.
Bailey was recommended for a Mention in Despatches for 'valuable services rendered in connection with the War'
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