George BAILEY

11 September 1914

ADDINGHAM - A LOCAL COMPANY FORMED - Enthusiastic Scenes

A very enthusiastic and largely attended open-air meeting was held on Saturday evening, presided over by Mr. A.V. Mason, C.C., for the purpose of asking for men willing and able to give their services for the safety and well-being of their country.

Mr. Mason said:-"We are engaged in a life and death struggle with a strong and merciless foe. Thank God, we have a strong fleet, strong enough to protect our shores and keep open the source of our food supplies, but we need a larger army to crush the power of Germany. We want young men to join the Army, to fight for their country." Married men could be perfectly sure that their wives and families will be well looked after. Messrs. Lister and Co. had offered to keep open the place of any man who volunteered and take him back at the same wages.

Captain Mercer, who gave a splendid address, reminded them that our army was suffering loss, and men were wanted to take their places. He had served his country 48 years; therefore he was entitled to stand aside for younger men. Yet when his country needed him he was ready to say "Here am I, take me." If it had not been for our Navy where should we have been now? We should have been where the Belgians are to-day. If German troops were to land here what would they do? They would drive our women and children before them, just as they had done in Belgium. Savages would not treat their prisoners worse than the Germans had done. He believed all the German Army had been located except three corps, which he thought were in readiness to invade this country if by any chance the German Fleet were to be successful or we were to suffer any great damage through floating mines. He had every confidence in our Navy, although it had not been in battle for a great number of years. We wanted young men to rise as one man, to be ready to fight for their country's sake. It was the men of the country who alone can fight their country's battles. "Join the Army now and fight for your freedom" (applause).

Mr. F.H. Humphray, J.P., said 153 men had been sworn in and he hoped he would be busy that night and every night; he did not mind if he sat all night.

Captain T.H.S. Tee also spoke, exhorting the young men to join the Army and defend their country's honour. He announced that the company would be called the Ilkley and Addingham Company, and as far as possible the men would be placed where they wished.

The Ilkley recruits sworn in marched to Addingham, accompanied by the Ilkley Brass Band, and all attended the meeting, after which hearty cheers were given as the men came up to join. Twenty-one recruits were sworn in on Saturday; several had been sworn in earlier at Ilkley and a few on Sunday and Monday. The following is a list of men from Addingham and Bolton Abbey who have gallantly joined the army:-

Addingham-Corporal Hy. Horsman, F. Burke, W. Hall, C. Moulding, H. Spencer, H. Leech [Leach], G. Thompson, J. Hargreaves, R. Townson, F. Hartley, A. Wade, H. Wade, G. Bailey, F. Chaplin, W.H. Young, J. Lister, J.W. Fisher, F. Fisher, W. Spenceley, W. Wroe, C. Fisher, H. Tunnicliffe, J. Kettlewell, W. Waggott [Waggitt].

Bolton Abbey-N. Nelson, C. Binns, J. Mitchell, G. Robinson, W. Nelson, E. Woolston, J.T. Roberts, A. Nelson.

On Monday the streets of the village reminded one of the now defunct Club Feast (which, singularly enough, would have been on that day), as they were crowded with people. All traffic was held up, the reason being that the Addingham contingent were lined up in readiness to fall in with the full company on their way to Halifax via Keighley. It was about 4.15 when the strains of 'Off to Tipperary' were heard in the distance, and very soon the company of recruits for Lord Kitchener's Army came in sight. A halt was called for refreshments and to take up the Addingham men. It was very pleasing to see such a fine sample of manhood all enrolled in their country's call. Ilkley Brass Band headed the company from Ilkley to the outskirts of the village.

18 August 1916

ADDINGHAM - NEWS OF SOLDIERS

We regret to announce that George Bailey, who joined Kitchener's Army with the first batch to leave Addingham, has been wounded in France. The news was conveyed to his father in the following latter:-
"Dear Mr. Bailey,-It is with the deepest regret I write this bad news. Your son George was on duty with the transport when a shell dropped right on the wheel of his limber and blew it to pieces, wounding him badly and killing another. His Corporal told me he was sorry, as also were all the lads on the transport. He was well liked by all who knew him. I hope you will soon hear from him and have better news. He has been sent down to the base so you will get information about him. I thought it my duty to let you know the sad news, Yours respectfully, Sergt. Horsman."

18 August 1916

ADDINGHAM - NEWS OF SOLDIERS

Mr Flint has received the following letters in acknowledgment of parcels.

W. Spenceley, of the 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's, writes:- "I have some bad news for you this time. I am sorry to say George Bailey was seriously wounded yesterday afternoon and not expected to live. I was not with the transport at the time, so it is only what those who were there told me. I have seen Sergeant Horseman, but he had not heard any particulars yet. Carl Moulding is also reported wounded. You will have heard by now that Sergt. J. W. Fisher is wounded; our boys seem to have got it thick."

25 August 1916

ADDINGHAM - NEWS OF SOLDIERS: Pte. George Bailey Dies from Wounds

We regret to announce that George Bailey, who was reported wounded last week, has died of wounds. His brother, Pte. J. Bailey, Transport Section 9th Border Regiment, writing home to his father, says:- "I suppose you will have heard about our George's death. He died of wounds caused by shellfire. I have seen Harry Horsman and he told me he was buried very comfortably close to where he was hit, so I think he's out of his misery because he had a leg blown clean off by shrapnel. It is hell upon earth here. He was taking the boys their rations up to the trenches, so we all have to run the risk of being hit. I cannot write much, I am too full up for words. He always came to see me when we were close together."

08 September 1916

ADDINGHAM - PRIVATE GEORGE BAILEY

Pte. George Bailey of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, son of Mr. T. Bailey, Addingham, whose death at the Front was recently recorded in our columns. [Photograph caption]

15 September 1916

ADDINGHAM - FURTHER NEWS OF THE 'BOYS'

Mr. Flint has received the following letters:-

Private John Bailey, Transport Section writes:- "Thanks for parcel. Feather will have told you about George being killed while taking the boys' rations up. It cuts me up every time I pass their transport-and that is every day-and I don't see George, but I often have a word with some of the Ilkley boys and they all feel the loss of him, because he was always willing to do his bit."