James's Story.
EARLY LIFE
James Bailey was born in Macclesfield on 23 October 1895, the son of Mary and James Bailey (snr), a greengrocer hawker of 11 Gunco Lane. In November 1901, James and his younger brother Thomas were enrolled at London Road school, the family having moved to 17 Gunco Lane. The school register notes that James had previously attended St Peter’s school.
By 1911, the family had moved to 3 Gunco Lane and Mary was a widow. James (jnr) was aged 15 and working as a winder for a gimp manufacturer. He later worked at Hammond's brickworks, Pott Shrigley.
WW1 SERVICE
James enlisted in the 7th Cheshires, service number 3956, in Macclesfield on 17 August 1915 when aged 19 years 7 months. He was described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighed 119 pounds and had a 33 inch chest. He had a circular scar on his left thigh, and three scars as a result of being vaccinated in infancy. James spent some time in Oswestry undergoing training, and between March and May 1916 he was reprimanded three times for being dirty or having dirty boots on parade.
On 1st July 1917 James was transferred to 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, initial service number 4909 and later number 291810, and sent overseas as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force on 13th July 1916.
Private James Bailey was reported missing on 26 March 1917, and was presumed to have died on or shortly after that date. His body was subsequently found. He was reported missing in the Macclesfield Times of 13 April 1917:
PRIVATE J BAILEY MISSING - Mrs Mary Bailey, 3 Gunco Lane, Macclesfield, has been officially notified that her son, Private James Bailey, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was posted as missing since the battle of Gaza on March 26th. Private Bailey is 21 years of age, and received his education at the London Road (Branch) Day School. He was formerly employed at Messrs Hammonds’ brickworks, Pott Shrigley, and enlisted two years ago…
COMMEMORATION
Private James Bailey is buried in Grave Ref. II E 10 in the Gaza War Cemetery.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private James Bailey.
In Macclesfield, James Bailey is commemorated on the Park Green and St Peter’s Church war memorials.
Private James Bailey is also commemorated in Macclesfield Cemetery on a family gravestone, plot no. Z 18610.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.