Mar 20, 1898

Born in Dublin, Ireland to James Edward and Mary Jane (nee Dugan) Bailey

Nov 9, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion in Morrisburg, Ontario

Ø  Number 455717

Ø  Next of kin given as Edward James Bailey, brother, 16 Temple Bldg., Broadstone, Dublin, Ireland

Ø  Previous occupation given as Farming

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Assigned to “D” Company

He lied about his age, stating his birth date as March 20, 1897 while actually being born March 20, 1898

Apr 1, 1916

Embarked the RMS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Apr 11, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the Signals Base

Jun 1, 1916

Transferred to the 45^th Battalion

Jul 4, 1916

Transferred to the CPTD (Canadian Pioneer Training Depot) in the Caesars Camp

Jul 6, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Battalion

Oct 26, 1916

Transferred to the 166^th Battalion at Shorncliffe

Nov 11, 1916

Transferred back to the Canadian Signalling Base

Dec 30, 1916

Transferred to the 196^th Battalion, Seaford

Jan 1, 1917

The 196^th Battalion was absorbed into the newly formed 19^th Reserve Battalion

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion, Seaford

Jul 11, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion and arrived at the #2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot), Etaples, France as part of a draft of 11 reinforcements from England and TOS the 21^st Battalion

Jul 16, 1917

Left the CIBD to join his battalion

Jul 17, 1917

Joined the 21^st Battalion in Brigade Reserve at Angres, France and posted to the Signals Section

Jul 24, 1917

The 21^st Battalion moved into Divisional Reserve in Fosse 10, near the town of Bouvigny-Boyeffles.  During this time the battalion was training for the attack on Hill 70 with headquarters in a chateau on Rue Maurice Gouy that has since been demolished.  However, the wall that fronted the grounds remains.  Many men carved their names and or numbers on that wall during the war when they had a few moments of spare time.  Among them was Private Bailey.  The image of his name is reproduced here with the permission of Patrice Machin who has studied the names on the wall. 

Nov 3, 1917

On the night of November 3/4, the battalion moved into the Passchendaele front near Crest Farm.  During the night the Germans mounted an attack on the front and used poison gas as part of that attack.  Private Bailey suffered from the effects of one of those gas shells and was evacuated first to the No. 3 AFA (Australian Field Ambulance) and then transferred the same day to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance)

Nov 4, 1917

Transferred to the No. 10 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for treatment

Nov 6, 1917

Transferred to the No 14 General Hospital

Nov 7, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Andrew

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Auxiliary Military Hospital, Moore Park, Preston, affiliated with the 1^st Western General Hospital, Fazakerley, Liverpool

Nov 8, 1917

Transferred to the St. Mary’s Auxiliary Hospital, Whalley, Lancashire

Dec 18, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Bromley

Jan 11, 1918

Discharged from hospital and placed On Command to the 3^rd Canadian Convalescent Depot, Seaford

Feb 26, 1918

Admitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital, Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Tonsillitis

Mar 15, 1918

Transferred to the West Cliff Canadian Eye & Ear Hospital and surgery was performed to remove his tonsils

Jun 13, 1918

Discharged from hospital and TOS the 6^th Reserve Battalion, Seaford

Aug 12, 1918

Awarded 8 days detention for an absence of 8 days and forfeited a total of 16 days pay

Nov 7, 1918

Designated as a 1^st Class Signaller

Dec 27, 1918

On Command to Kinmel Park pending return to Canada

Jan 11, 1919

Embarked the RMS Olympic in Southampton

Jan 17, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and granted leave with subsistence until February 3, 1919 prior to proceeded to Ottawa, Ontario

Feb 8, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Signaller

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number not recorded

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Cornwall, Ontario

Apr 22, 1919

Attested into the CAMC (Canadian Army Medical Corps) in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Number 455717

Ø  Next of kin given as Miss C. Bailey, sister, 19 Upper Bridge St., Dublin, Ireland

Ø  His present address was given as the YMCA, Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 3 years 3 months in the 59^th Battalion

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  He gave his actual birth date, March 20, 1898

Apr 29, 1919

Posted to the CSC (Clearing Services Command), Quebec City, Quebec

Sep 4, 1919

Discharged from the CEF Clearing Service Command in Quebec City, Quebec

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge c/o YMCA, Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  His service is recorded as being in Canada and the USA

Following the war the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him c/o the Cornwall, Ontario Post Office

 Shown below is his Victory Medal

Nov 5, 1920

Married to Sarah Jane McFarlane at Providence Bay, Manitoulin, Island.  They lied about his wife’s age, stating that she was 17 years of age, when in fact she was born September 4, 1904, making her only 16 years of age

Peter Bailey served during WWII with the Veterans Guard of Canada and held the rank of Sergeant

May 29, 1966

Peter Bailey died in Vancouver, British Columbia and was buried in the Victory Memorial Park in Surrey, British Columbia