Father & Son Group:
First World War Medal Trio – Sergeant Harold Russell Bailey, 484th East Anglian Field Company, Royal Engineers
Second World War Medal Group – Signalman Gordon Newton Bailey, Royal Signals
1914-15 Star – 905 CPL. H. R. BAILEY. R.E.
British War Medal – 905 SJT. H. R. BAILEY. R.E.
Victory Medal – 905 SJT. H. R. BAILEY. R.E.
Harold Russell Bailey was born on 5 September 1893 at Stotfold, Bedfordshire, the son of Samuel John Johnson Bailey (1862–1918) and Martha Ann Russell (1858–1946). Prior to the outbreak of the Great War he was employed as a railway clerk, a skilled and responsible occupation that reflected the growing importance of Britain’s rail infrastructure in the early twentieth century. Bailey enlisted into the Territorial Force on 1 December 1913, joining the Royal Engineers, and was already serving when war was declared in August 1914.
Initially holding the rank of Sapper, Bailey was promoted to Corporal on 27 July 1915, and later advanced to Sergeant on 17 September 1916. He served with the 484th East Anglian Field Company, Royal Engineers, a unit responsible for vital engineering tasks including fieldworks, road construction, water supply, and the maintenance of communications under fire. His overseas service began with the Gallipoli campaign, landing in theatre on 16 August 1915, during one of the most difficult phases of the operation, where Royal Engineer units were heavily engaged in improving defensive positions and maintaining supply routes under constant enemy pressure.
Following the evacuation of Gallipoli, Bailey continued his service in other theatres of war. While serving in the Middle East, he contracted malaria in Palestine in July 1918, a common and debilitating illness among troops operating in the region’s harsh climate. Despite this, his service record reflects steady progression and sustained commitment throughout the war. For his First World War service he was awarded the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
After the war, Bailey returned to civilian life and married Minnie N. Read (1890–1966) in April 1922 at Luton, Bedfordshire. The couple had a son, Gordon Newton Bailey, born on 21 November 1923. Harold Russell Bailey lived into the inter-war and Second World War period, witnessing his son follow him into military service.
1939-45 Star – unnamed as issued
Italy Star – unnamed as issued
War Medal – unnamed as issued
General Service Medal, 1 clasp, “Palestine 1945-48” – 2388932 SIGMN. G. N. BAILEY. R.SIGS.
Comes with original box of issue and slip.
His son, Gordon Newton Bailey, was born at Luton, Bedfordshire, and came of age during the Second World War. He enlisted into the Royal Corps of Signals, serving as a Signalman, a role critical to the coordination and effectiveness of modern military operations. Signal units were responsible for maintaining communications between front-line formations, artillery, and headquarters, often under challenging and dangerous conditions.
Bailey served during the Second World War and the immediate post-war period, earning the 1939–45 Star, Italy Star, and War Medal 1939–45. His service continued into Britain’s post-war commitments overseas, and he was later awarded the General Service Medal (1918) with clasp “Palestine 1945–48”, recognising his participation in operations during the British Mandate of Palestine. His medal issue is complete with the original named box and forwarding slip, addressed to Mr G. Bailey, 7 Rondini Avenue, Luton, providing excellent provenance and a direct link to the recipient.
Gordon Newton Bailey was discharged from service on 13 April 1947, with his medals formally awarded on 23 November 1948. He remained resident in Luton for much of his later life and died there in February 1999. Together, this father and son group represents continuous British military service across two world wars and the turbulent post-war years, spanning from Gallipoli and Palestine in the First World War to Italy and Mandatory Palestine in the aftermath of the Second.
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AJMS Medals