Description

For sale is a 1914 – 15 Star, British War and Victory Medals (1914 – 18), all impressed named 583 PTE G. BAILEY. 31 B.N. A.I.F. court mounted for display they come with copies of service records and picture.

Charles Bailey was born on 27/8/1893 in Drysdale, Victoria, Australia. A plumber by trade he enlisted into the 31st Battalion A.I.F. when it was being formed in Brisbane on 10/7/1915. He was assigned to ‘B’ Company and embarked with the battalion bound for Egypt on 9/11/1915 landing on 7/12/1915, just in time to qualify for the 1914 – 15 Star.

He was deployed to France with the battalion landing on 25/6/1916. His records are ambiguous with an injury to his little finger on left hand as compound fracture whilst all other entries states gunshot wound as of 2/11/1916. On the date the battalion was to participate in an operation however it was cancelled. He was evacuated to England and rejoined the battalion in France in February 1917. He was hospitalised with influenza and returned to England 26/5/1917 and on recovering was detached for duty with the ANZAC Provo Corps on 15/8/1917 followed by a detachment as Headquarter Guard.

He returned to France and the 31st Battalion on 13/4/1918 and served with them for the remainder of the war until returning to Australia for discharge in April 1919.

He died in 1955 in Melbourne.