Pte 16287 Charles Bailey

• Age: 24
• From: Garston, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16287 Private Charles BAILEY, 18^th Battalion KLR.

Charles Bailey was born on 27th February 1892, the youngest of eight children born to Thomas, a railway wagon builder born near Wigan, and his wife Sarah (nee Woods also born in Wigan. They were married in 1875 in Wigan. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 43 Wellington Street, Garston, Liverpool.

Charles is 9 years of age. His father and mother are both aged 44. His siblings are shown as; Annie aged 24 and Peter a wagon builder aged 22 both born in Wigan, William aged 19 also a wagon builder born in Nottingham and the remaining three siblings were all born in Liverpool; Henry aged 15, Martha aged 13 and Alice aged 11. 

The family are still living at 43 Wellington Street in the 1911 Census.

Charles is now 19 and a grocer's assistant. Both parents are resident in the household and father Thomas is aged 55, a railway wagon builder, mother Sarah is also 55 and they declare that they have been married for 35 years and have had 10 children of which 8 have survived. Alice is aged 19 and a grocer's assistant. 

Charles enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 04^th September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16287, aged 22 years 189 days, giving his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his father. He is described as being five feet eight inches tall, weighed 135lbs., chest 35”, with fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Charles crossed to France with his Battalion on the SS Invicta arriving in Boulogne on the 07th November 1915.

7.11.15 - Embarked for France 

13.3.16 - To F.A. with pleurisy 

13.3.16 - Admitted to 96 F.A. with myalgia 

18.3.16 - Resumed duty 

25.3.16 - Attached to 30th Divn. Grenade School 

7.4.16 - Resumed duty 

1.7.16 - Wounded in Action 

1.7.16 - Missing 

He was initially reported as wounded and missing in action during the attack at Montauban on 01st July 1916 and his death was not officially regarded as having occurred on that date until 27th April 1917.

The Battalion diary for the opening day of the Battle of the Somme shows an insight into the day:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks. 

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

Charles has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Liverpool Echo 12th July 1916 

GARSTON " PALS."  

Lance-Corporal Willis Farrance, aged 23 years, who resided at 14, Gladstone-road, Garston, has been killed, and, although official intimation has been received it is believed also that Private Charles Bailey, aged 24, 43 Wellington-street;  

His death was reported in the Runcorn Guardian on 21st July 1916:

"Private Bailey was also a youngest son and lived with his parents at 43 Wellington Street, Garston. He refused to stay behind, though slightly wounded, when the charge was sounded and he went over the top of the parapet with his comrades. He met his death instantly by a rifle bullet through the heart". 

Liverpool Echo 2nd July 1917 

LOST AT THE SOMME BATTLE. 

BAILEY—In loving memory of our dear son Charlie, 18th K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action July 1. (Fondly remembered Father and Mother 43, Wellington-street, Garston.  

BAILEY —In loving memory our dear brother Charlie, 18th K.L.R. killed act July 1, 1916. (Deeply mourned by Annie, Roger, Eddie.) —1, Whitley-street, Garston.  

BAILEY— In memory our dear brother Charlie. K.L R. (Pals), killed action July 1, 1916. (Ever remembered by Maggie, Charlie, and Children. —5, Stormont Road, Garston.  

BAILEY—In loving memory of Private Charlie Bailey K.L.R. (Pals), who fell in action (France) July 1, 1916. (Fondly remembered by his chums Joey and Henry, Garston.)  

BAILEY—In ever-loving remembrance of our dear brother, Private Charles Bailey K.L.R. (Pals), who was killed in action July 1, 1916. (Sadly missed by his Brother and Sister-in-Law, Henry and Rosie.)  

BAILEY —In loving memory our dear brother Charlie, 18th K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action July 1, 1916. (Deeply mourned by Alice and Tom.) —43, Wellington-street, Garston.  

BAILEY —In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Charles Bailey (K.L.R.), killed in action July 1, 1916. (Sadly missed.)—H. And M. Tuffin, Gateacre. 

He served in France from 07th November 1915, earning his three medals.  

He is also commemorated on the war memorial within St Michael’s Parish Church, Church Road, Garston and on the Garston Roll of Honour Garston War Memorial. He is also commemorated on the war memorial which once stood in Banks Road Methodist Church, Garston before it was demolished.

Father Thomas received some personal items that were returned, including some photos. 

Soldiers Effects to father Thomas, Pension to mother Sarah. 

Father died aged 69 in 1926 and the mother died aged 77 in 1934 

We currently have no further information on Charles Bailey, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.