Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Rofe Bailey was born on the 1st August 1887 in Sydney New South Wales Australia. At the time of his birth Arthur’s father Charles Bailey was listed as an ironmonger. However Charles went on to be a dentist who died prematurely at the age of 43 leaving Arthur aged 17 and his siblings Ethel, Leslie and Hilda aged 15, 13 and 11 respectively to assist their mother Adelaide Mary Bailey nee Ridgway with living expenses. One of their successful endeavours was making homemade jam and selling it. Family lore amongst subsequent generations is that Adelaide took over Charles’ business and became a dentist herself.

Arthur’s great grandparents, John and Mary Ridgway (nee Willoughby) married in Nash Buckinghamshire England in 1857 and arrived in Australia the same year. They settled in the Picton area, N.S.W. and had 10 children, including Arthur’s mother Adelaide.

In 1913 Arthur’s mother Adelaide and Arthur, who was an accountant when he signed up, were living in Dulwich Hill Sydney. The following year WW1 broke out and Arthur enlisted on the 30th August 1915. His sister Ethel enlisted as a nurse 2 months before Arthur on the 3rd June 1915 and brother Leslie was to enlist on the 2nd March 1917.  

On both Arthur and Ethel’s enlistment papers they give their Next of Kin as their mother Adelaide Mary Bailey and her address as Pacific Cable Board Southport Queensland and Cable Station Southport Queensland respectively. Subsequent references have assumed that Arthur’s mother Adelaide was a long-term resident of Queensland. However, although it is unclear the involvement Adelaide 51 years at the time had with the Pacific Cable Board, by 1920 she was back living in her native N.S.W. When the A.I.F. sent a telegram to Adelaide in 1920 advising that Arthur would ‘probably arrive in Melbourne 6th October 1920’, Adelaide had left Southport and was again residing in Sydney. Arthur was transported from England on the ship Wahehe and arrived back in Sydney Australia on the 25th October 1920. He was discharged from service 24th January 1921.

Arthur was 28 years and 1 month when he enlisted. His recorded weight was 132 pounds, he stood 5 feet 7 inches, he had a dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. Arthur spent the majority of his war service stationed in England with the Australian Army Pay Corps. Ironically he was initially sent to Perham Downs, a twelve minute drive from Andover, where his grandmother Mary Ridgway nee Willoughby came from. Mary arrived in Australia in 1857 - 58 years earlier than when Arthur left Australian shores to serve his country.

Arthur’s service during WW1 was not on the field. His talents were utilised in the Australian Army Paying Corps. The AAPC was established in September 1914 and served in all theatres of WW1.

Perhaps it was while he was stationed in England that he met his future wife, Eugenia Peers nee Wragg who arrived in Sydney in 1921. Eugenia, a widow at the time of their marriage, came from Shirley Warwickshire England. Arthur and Eugenia married April 15th 1921 in the Holy Trinity Church Surrey Hills Melbourne.

The couple settled in Arthur’s hometown of Sydney. Arthur and Eugenia had a son Peter Bailey, who, like his grandparents before him, was to become a dentist. By 1933 Arthur was living in Eulalie Street (later Nulla Street) Vaucluse Sydney N.S.W. He lists his occupation on the Electoral Roll as ‘merchant’. Arthur was to establish Arthur Bailey Surgico Pty Ltd. In 2023, the company is still operating 10 decades on. The company are suppliers of medical, surgical, scientific, temperature and mobility equipment.

Like many Australians Arthur enlisted not knowing where his future would lead him. Arthur was my great uncle and I honour his committed service to Australia during the uncertain and volatile times of war.

Sally McKenzie
May 2023