Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in the West Midlands city of Birmingham, Harold arrived on the 8th April 1913 and was the third of six children with siblings Amy, Bill, Violet, Phyllis, and Dulcie. His parents were Rose Caroline (Karaline) and William Henry Bayley.
Harold became a mixed farmer in Poochera on the Eyre Peninsula, just out of Streaky Bay. He was well known for his fairness and was quick to support fellow farmers where necessary. In one incident a complaint was made by a self-righteous local protesting about stock straying onto roads. In a well-worded letter to the local paper, Harold suggested pointedly that before complaining, they should “endeavour first to keep, his own stock off the roads and out of other people's property.”
With the outbreak of WWII, Harold and several men from the surrounding areas were quick to enlist. 27-year-old Harold and Alfred Poyner, a farm labourer, both signed up on the same day, the 29th June ’40. Harold was allocated the number SX6932 and Alf SX7019, with both being placed in the 2/48th Battalion. Within days, 36-year-old Dominic Leo Reidy, also from the land and who worked at Thurlga Station out from Port Augusta also enlisted and was allocated SX8350, and also placed in the 2/48th Battalion.
Initial days for the trio were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before they headed to Woodside for preliminary training. Coincidentally, both Harold and Alf were appointed as Acting Lance Corporals prior to returning for pre-embarkation leave back at Poochera.
A farewell was organised in the Poochera Hall for Harold and Alf. Many returned soldiers from WWI attended with both men being highly lauded and wished the best of luck. The Poochera Red Cross group gave each soldier a gift, plus a large parcel of comforts for their use. A generous supper was provided, followed by dancing into the early hours before the farewell concluded with the singing of "They Are Jolly Good Fellows" and the National Anthem. |
Soon after their leave, Harold and his fellow 2/48th Battalion, boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940 and disembarked on the 17th December. The 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. The next stop was to Tobruk at the start of April 1941 where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to these fresh new enlistees. That month, Harold was graded as a Group III Driver and soon after was promoted to the role of Lance Corporal.
A painful gallbladder inflammation, possibly due to poor diet in the desert, resulted in Harold being hospitalised for about a month. Ill health also affected him the following year with an exceptionally high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) also resulting in further hospitalisation. Finally at the end of January ’43 Harold was able to embark to return to Australia via Melbourne.
Unfortunately, by April, his elbow became inflamed with cellulitis and further treatment followed. By this time, Harold was placed in the Vehicle Pool but was soon adjudged able to go to New Guinea in November ’43. A return of a high temperature (PUO) and dengue fever resulted in Harold’s return to Townsville. Not unsurprisingly, two days of being absent without leave in August ’44 followed, as did the inevitable fine of two days’ pay. Back in South Australia, by March ’45, Harold’s mental state was finally acknowledged as being an ‘anxiety state with depression’ with some support given, including boarding at Wayville. He was finally discharged in April ’45 and returned home to Poochera.
In a cruel twist, Harold’s 69-year-old mother, Rose collapsed unexpectedly and died in a King William street milk bar in August ’49. She now rests in the Centennial Park Cemetery.
After WWII, little was known about, or treatment offered to those involved in the war and who experienced what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, Harold’s life continued to be affected. This was exacerbated by a tragic accident which occurred the following year when Harold’s motor truck collided head on near Mount Cooper, with a motor cycle ridden by a 16 year old youth. The teenager received severe compound fractures of the leg and thigh, a fractured collarbone, cuts, abrasions, shock and other injuries. Despite his own injuries and severe shock, Harold walked back to the Mount Cooper town for help from locals who applied first aid to the injured lad. Both the lad and Harold were taken in an open car to the Streaky Bay Hospital. Despite his horrific injuries, the lad seemed more concerned over the welfare of Harold than he was over his own injuries, and several times expressed the hope that Harold was all right. With the young man’s condition deteriorating, a decision was made to transport him to Adelaide, leaving at 2:00am. Unfortunately, by the time Port Augusta was reached, a further decision was made to amputate the leg before continuing on to Adelaide. Unfortunately, the lad died overnight. His body returned for his funeral and burial at Streaky Bay.
The local Sentinel later reported both on the bravery of the young lad, despite his horrific injuries and also expressed sympathy for Harold. ‘Bayley, a returned soldier, who suffers chronic neurosis as a result of his war time service, is an inmate of the Streaky Bay Hospital suffering severe nervous shock. He was discharged from the hospital a day or so after the accident but had to be admitted again on Friday.’ It was an horrific time for Harold.
Just two years later, Harold was again involved in an accident with a bicycle whist driving his car at Plympton. He had left his Mount Cooper farm to visit family when the accident occurred. Statistically, this contributed to being just one of 26 injuries treated at the Royal Adelaide Hospital over the end of March weekend. Of those, 19 were injured in motor cycle mishaps (in an era before helmet wearing was compulsory.)
Aged 76, Harold died in the Daw Park Hospice on the 29th March 1990.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.