Name
Eric Henry Platt Bailey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/11/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Flight Lieutenant
Royal Air Force
206 Squadron
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LINSELLES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
D.5
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Stained Glass Window, Hitchin Boys Grammar School, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
He was the son of James Henry and Esther Bailey of 43, Ridgeway, Enfield, Middlesex. Mr Bailey was a Civil Engineer. He was born on the 25th March 1898 and attended the Hitchin Grammar School from 1911-1913 having previously attended Letchworth C. C. School. He left school to go to the City of London School.
In 1901 the family were living at 24 Parkhurst Road, Friern Barnet and consisted of his parent – James working as a civil engineer, and children: Hilda O (5) and Eric H P Bailey (3)
By 1911, they had moved to 39 Baldock Rd, Letchworth, Herts. James was still a civil engineer, but now working in railway construction, and another sibling had arrived, John Davenport (9). The census recorded that James and Esther had been married for 18 years with all three children living.
Wartime Service
He appears to have enlisted into the Royal Navy on 13 May 1916 and was stationed at HMS President II - HMS President was a Royal Navy shore based establishment (a "Stone Frigate") based on the northern bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge.
He was in trouble in September 1916, for what is unclear, but it was recorded: “Did take part a ? use violence” and received a punishment of 20 days detention. It cannot have too great a ‘black mark’ because he was allowed to become a Probationary Flight Officer in the R.N.A.S. on 22 April 1917.
His home address was recorded as Kayes, The Ridgeway, Enfield, Middlx. – probably his parents address, when he received his wings at the Royal Navy Air Station, Cranwell on 30 January 1918
He was gazetted as having been granted a commission by the Spring of 1918. He flew De Havilland DH9s with 206 Squadron based at Alquines which is between Boulogne and St. Omer in France. From the lst November 1917 the Squadron had been known as 6 (Naval) Squadron and was redesignated 206 Squadron when the R.A.F. was formed on the 1st April 1918. His service record also records that he had flown Maurice Farman Avro’s, B.E.2C, B.E.2E, Sopwith Pup, Bristol Bullets, DH4, 6 and 9, and when he qualified at Friestin was noted as Range – very good, firing in the air, very good and bomb dropping 1st class.
He went to Dunkirk 13 March 1918. He was admitted to a hospital in St Omer on 26 April 1918, suffering from scabies, having been transferred from another hospital. He was discharged on 24 May 1918 and was with 206 Squadron by 23 July 1918.
At some time between the 29th July and the 4th August 1918 he and a 2nd Lieutenant R. Milne brought down an enemy aircraft. On the 11th August, only three months to the day before the Armistice, he was killed whilst flying in the Linselles area where there was also an airfield.
At first, he was reported as missing in action, but the intimation of his death followed a few weeks later. He possibly died as a prisoner of war, while being treated for injuries, as he was reported dead to the Central Committee for Prisoners of War.
He is buried in Grave D.5 in the Linselles Communal Cemetery which is near Roubaix in France.
Additional Information
In his Will he left £260 13s 5d.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
