Bennett BAILEY

10 September 1915

OTHER EARBY CASUALTIES

Other casualties reported in Earby include Pte. Robert Healey, 1/6 Duke of Wellington's, wounded at Ypres; Pte Illingworth, 8th West Riding, wounded (severely), in Dardanelles; Pte. Arthur Aldersley, 8th West Ridings, wounded in Dardanelles; Pte. Gordon Cross and Pte. Bennett Bailey, both of 8th West Riding Regiment, prisoners of war in Turkey.

15 October 1915

EARBY SOLDIER A PRISONER IN TURKEY

Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Bailey, 40, Longroyd Road, Earby, received a War Office message on Sunday last stating that their son, Pte. Bennett Bailey, 8th Duke of Wellington's Regiment, had been taken prisoner by the Turks, and that he is now in a military hospital at Rodosto.

Pte. Bailey had previously been reported missing since August 12th. He is 22 years of age. No information is vouchsafed as to whether he is wounded or not, though his presence in hospital gives ground for that supposition.

His parents are naturally anxious to hear further as to his welfare, and efforts towards this end are being put forth on their behalf. He left England for the Dardanelles in July, and his last letter home was dated August 2nd, his battalion going into action on the 6th. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have two more sons in the Army, one in France and another in training with the R.A.M.C.

Private Edgar Smith, also of the 8th Battalion Duke of Wellington's is reported missing since the same date. He is the son of Mr. Joseph Smith, Mill Brow.

19 January 1917

BAILEY - Death presumed August 12th 1916 in Gallipoli Peninsula of Pte. Bennett Bailey, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, 40, Langroyd Road, Earby, aged 22 years.

19 January 1917

MISSING EARBY SOLDIER'S DEATH PRESUMED

Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Bailey, 40, Langroyd Road, Earby, have been informed in regard to their son, Pte. Bennett Bailey, of the Duke of Wellington's, who was reported missing in Gallipoli since August 1915, that "the Army Council have been regretfully constrained to conclude that he is dead, and that his death took place on the 12th August 1915 (or since)."

Pte. Bailey, who was 22 years of age, had only left England about a month previous. The first information received by the parents contained a ray of hope in the fact that their son was stated to be a prisoner in the hands of the Turks at Rodosto. Repeated efforts to get into communication with him through various agencies, however, were unavailing, and eventually it was found that a mistake had arisen through similarity of names.

Pte. Bailey was formerly a weaver employed at Spring Mill (C.W. Bailey Ltd.). His cousin (Pte. Smith Bailey), of the same regiment, met his death under exactly the same circumstances about the same time, his death being presumed some months ago. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have two more sons in the Army.

26 January 1917

EARBY - SOLDIER'S DEATH PRESUMED

Mrs. G.S. Cross, Water Street, Earby, has received information in regard to her husband, Pte. Gordon S. Cross, of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, who was reported missing in Gallipoli in August 1915. The Army Council has been regretfully constrained to conclude that his death took place on August 12th 1914 [1915] (or later).

Pte. Cross, who was 21 years of age, had only left England about a month prior to the above date. The first information received by his wife was "missing" after the battle of 12th August, since when she has heard nothing further until the news of his death. Pte. Cross was formerly a weaver at Messrs. A.J. Birley's Limited. He leaves a widow and one child.

The deaths of two other Earby comrades - Pte. Smith Bailey and Pte. Bennett Bailey - who took part in the same battle were recently confirmed, after being reported missing at the same time. We will give a photo of Pte. Cross next week.

10 May 1918

Private T. H. Bailey, Earby

Private Thomas H. Bailey, Duke of Wellington's, killed April 14th, was 31 years of age and the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Bailey, 40 Longroyd Road, Earby, who lost another son (Private Bennett Bailey) in the Dardanelles campaign. Private T. H. Bailey enlisted in 1914, and was invalided home after 20 months service in France, whither he only returned at Easter. He was formerly an overlooker at Messrs. C. W. Bailey's, Spring Mill, Earby, and married, his wife residing at 24 Melbourne Mount, Barnoldswick.