BAYLY, Brian Brock
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 254th Tunnelling Coy. Royal Engineers |
| Born: | Semaphore, South Australia , November 1884 |
| Home Town: | Semaphore, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College and University of Adelaide |
| Occupation: | Employed by Malay States Government |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 30 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Nine Elms British Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Hackney St Peter's College Fallen Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Nov 1915: | Enlisted Second Lieutenant, Officer, Unspecified British Units | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 1917: | Involvement Captain, 254th Tunnelling Coy. Royal Engineers, Third Ypres |
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From the Fallen Saints - Captain Brian Brock Bayly MC
Brian B Bayly of Semaphore, South Australia was born at Semaphore in November 1884. He attended the Collegiate School of St Peter with his younger brother Colin and after leaving entered Adelaide University. After gaining his degree later worked for the Malay States Government.
Brian Bayly has been on a visit to Adelaide. Lately he has been at T’ai Cha, North Canton Province, studying Chinese, with the permission of the Malay States Government who gave him leave for that purpose. [i]
In 1915, Brian wrote to the School Magazine from Rawang Straits Settlements where he had just been gazetted a Magistrate (second class) for the district of Perendah and it was probably there that he enlisted in the British Army; he was appointed temporary second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 6 November 1915.
Lieutenant Brian Brock Bayly, Royal Engineers, was awarded the Military Cross in April 1917.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out a daring reconnaissance, obtaining valuable information, blew up two enemy mine shafts, and captured three prisoners. He has previously done fine work. [ii]
In early 1917, five St Peter’s Old Scholars from different units were able to meet up and share a meal together and while perhaps they may have thought about it, none would have dwelt upon the fact it was possibly the last time some of them would ever see each other.
This year A.H. Brown, R.Y. Langdon, J.G. Duncan Hughes, Brian Bayly, and one of the Wallmans met somewhere on the Western Front, and to celebrate the meeting had dinner together within the sounds of the enemy guns. [iii]
Captain Brian Brock Bayly MC, 254th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, was killed in action on 30 October 1917; he was 32 years of age.
His brother, Lance Corporal Colin Bayly, 1st/10th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool) Regiment was killed in action at St Eloi, Flanders on 16 April 1915.
[i] St Peter’s School Magazine - W K Thomas & Co, Adelaide, December 1913, p. 41
[ii] London Gazette, Bayly, Brian Brock - Issue 30023 published on the 17 April 1917, P. 4 of 26
[iii] St Peter’s School Magazine - W K Thomas & Co, Adelaide, May 1917, p. 59
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