BAILEY, Percy Maurice
| Service Numbers: | 2521, N102095 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8 Garrison Battalion (NSW) |
| Born: | Bingara, New South Wales, Australia, 6 October 1895 |
| Home Town: | Manilla, Tamworth Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Manilla Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Blood clot to the heart from a broken leg, Manila, New South Wales, Australia, 29 June 1952, aged 56 years |
| Cemetery: |
Manilla Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2521, 33rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2521, 33rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Napier embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2521, 33rd Infantry Battalion, SS Napier, Sydney |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, N102095, 8 Garrison Battalion (NSW) | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, 8 Garrison Battalion (NSW) |
Villers-Bretonneux
Percy was a Signalmen with the 33rd at Villers-Brettoneux in April 1918. He fell victim to the Germans early on-slaught of Mustard Gas which affected his lungs and eye sight. While receiving medical treatment he contracted the influenza virus that ravaged Europe and indeed the world from 1918 through to 1920. Although he survived this, it took him six months to be well enough to be transported back to Australia.
Back home he lived a quiet life working for the local municipality in the parks and gardens of his home town of Manila, NSW due to his eyesight restricting him from many opportunities.
During WW2 he signed up with the home guard with duties that included guarding Japanese POW’s on the trip to Cowra goal.
Submitted 6 January 2024 by Matt Bailey
Biography contributed by Matt Bailey
Percy was an enthusiastic lad who joined the first Boy Scout troupe in his home town of Manilla at the age of 13. Here he learnt survival skills that we all know about but also took part in bayonet training and the use of signal flags....yes at age 13!
He dutifully signed up when WW1 broke out and put these learned skills to use by becoming a a Signalmen with the 33rd Infantry Battalion. It was with the 33rd that Private Percy Bailey ended up at Villers-Brettoneux in April 1918. During the Germans early on-slaught of Mustard Gas which they used to "soften up" the enemy Percy was gassed which affected his lungs and unfortunately badly damaged his eye sight. While receiving medical treatment he contracted the influenza virus that ravaged Europe and indeed the world from 1918 through to 1920. Although he survived this, it took him six months to be well enough to be transported back to Australia.
Back home he lived a quiet life working for the local municipality in the parks and gardens of his home town of Manilla, NSW as his eye sight had never completely recovered. The story goes that if he met you on the street he would rely on your voice to know who you were as he couldn't make out facial features terribly well.
During WW2 he signed up with the home guard with duties that included at one point, guarding Japanese POW’s on their trip from the ports to the Cowra Prisoner of War Camp.
Percy never complained about his eye sight or anything really and was a gentle man but like all back then, loved a punt. His betting money was closely monitored by his wife Irene however, so it never got "out of hand"
Percy died in 1952 after starting a tractor with a crank handle which kicked back and broke his leg. A few days later a blood clot from the injury worked its way to his heart causing his passing.
I never got to know my grandfather but after much research and talking to my father and his sisters I feel comfort in knowing about him and am very proud of having him as my Grand Dad.
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