Name
Frank Willson Bailey
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1915
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
67674
Royal Engineers
136th Army Troops Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTIANOS MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot IV, Row A, Grove 200.
Greece
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Not on the Boxmoor memorials
Pre War
Frank Willson Bailey was born in early 1879 in Boxmoor, Herts, the son of Thomas Willson and Emma Bailey, and baptised 26 January 1879 at St Mary’s, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. He was one of twelve children, although three had died before 1911. His parents had married on 26 November 1862 at Trinity Church, Paddington, London.
On the 1881 Census the family were living at Lower Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was a Licensed Victualler. They moved to Watford soon after and Frank attended Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Victoria Boys’ School, Watford, from 19 January 1885; then St Andrew’s Boys’ School, Watford, from 16 January 1888 to 4 July 1890. On the 1891 Census the family were living at 179 Queen's Road, Watford, at which time Frank was working as a Telegraph Messenger.
He married Mary Kerrison on 1 September 1900 at St Mary’s, Watford and they moved to Deptford, London and were living at 9 Lampa Road on the 1901 Census, when Frank was working as a Journeyman Cooper. Later the same year they had a daughter, Ada Alice Willson born on 29 May 1901. HIs wife Mary died in 1908 in the Camberwell district, London, aged 31 and he remarried on 26 March 1910 to Frances Mary Clark at St Luke’s, Hammersmith, London. On the 1911 Census, they were living at 3 Searle Road, New Kent Road, London SE. They had a daughter Frances on 21 July 1912. (Frank's eldest daughter Ada was living with his parents in Watford on the 1911 Census).
His mother Emma died 1913 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 25 September in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. His father Thomas died 31 January 1928 in Watford aged 87, and was buried 4 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
His widow later lived at 23 Chapel Grove, Addlestone, Surrey. Frances never remarried and died 1971 in Kent aged 87.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London and served with the 136th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers, as Corporal Reg. no. 67674. He served in Egypt from 21 August 1915 and was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
He died at the 3rd Australian General Hospital, Mudros on 20 September 1915, aged 37, from dysentery contracted on active service. He is buried at Portianos Military Cemetery, Greece,
Additional Information
His Acting Executor, Henry W Fretten, received his pay owing of 2 shillings. He also obtained probate of Frank's estate in London on 2 February 1916 with effects of £271 11s 1d. On pension records the guardian of his eldest daughter Ada was his father Thomas. Unfortunately, Frank’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Frank in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 9 October 1915.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
