Bailey, John
No.2629 – Private John Leslie Bailey – 51st Battalion
John Bailey was born in White Gum Valley, Fremantle on the 3rd January 1897 to John & Esther Bailey. His sister Mary was born in Fremantle in 1898 and Esther in Fremantle in 1905. During their time in Fremantle they lived in Cantonment Street. A younger brother Francis was born in Swan Valley in 1908.
After his birth in Fremantle the family moved to North Fremantle and later Guildford, where John attended the local state school. He later took up the trade of Mill Hand. He was also serving in the 89th Infantry Militia Battalion.
With his parent’s permission John enlisted into the AIF on the 6th June 1916. He was found to be 5 feet 5 ½ inches in height; weighing 173 lbs; chest measurement of 32-34 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes & brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic.
After being sent to No.74 Depot, John was assigned to the 6th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion. This group left Fremantle Harbour on the 10th October 1916. After arriving in England on the 2nd December 1916, John only spent a few weeks training on Salisbury Plain, for on the 29th December 1916 he arrived at Etaples at the 4th Australian Division Base Depot. He was taken on strength of the 51st Battalion on New Years Day 1917. The 51st were then in the vicinity of Flers, suffering through the coldest French winter for decades. However John survived this cold weather and also the battles the 51st Battalion took part in when they were capturing the Hindenburg Outpost villages.
John’s first stint away from the battalion was on the 30th July 1917 when he was evacuated to hospital sick. He returned by the 6th August and served with the 51st Battalion through the terrible battles of Third Ypres in September/October 1917. His next break from the muddy trenches of Flanders & Messines was on the 14th January 1918 when he was granted two weeks leave in England. This would have been a very welcome break for John as he had served a long time without a rest.
After John’s arrival back to the 51st, they continued to serve around Messines and Warneton until the German breakthrough on the Somme in late March 1918. The 51st as part of the 12th Brigade were sent to the area around Dernancourt. They helped defend the area when the Germans launched a massive attack on the 5th April 1918. The 51st were again drawn in to the fray at the next German attack on the 25th April 1918. Villers-Bretonneux had been captured by the Germans and the 51st Battalion as part of the 13th Brigade was to retake the village and surrounding area. This counter-attack was successful with both the 13th & 15th Brigades securing their objectives. However during the action by the 51st Battalion John Bailey was killed in action.
There doesn’t seem to be an eyewitness account of his death though there is a notation in his service records that states he was buried outside of Villers-Bretonneux at map reference O34C & O35E, however the exact location remained unknown.
His parents who were now living at Cottesloe were advised of this and that he would therefore be commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. They received his personal effects & medals.
Now the boys are all returning
How our hearts for you dear Leslie are yearning
None but aching hearts can tell
The broken heart at not saying farewell
Inserted by his sorrowing mother, sisters and brothers
The West Australian 25th April 1919