Lives of the First World War

known 1st January 1880

Bugler/Private, 727063, Canadian Infantry, 58th Battn. Killed in action at Tilloy near Cambrai on 01/10/18. Named in the Memorial Chapel at St Annes Parish Church and on the memorial in Ashton Gardens and buried at Ramillies British Cemetery, Plot 1, Row C, Grave 6. Percy was born in Burnley on 27 November 1893, the elder son of Mr. and Mrs John. Bayley. Between 1901 and 1911 the family moved to St Annes and lived at 3 (subsequently 7) Springfield Rd and was educated at Heyhouses School. Subsequently he went to HMS Indefatigable, a naval training ship based on the River Mersey at Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, which he attended from 10th April 1908, aged 14, to 22nd April 1911. Establishment records indicated that during that time he grew from 4’6” to 4’10” and went from 5st 5lbs to 6st 10lbs. His character on leaving was described as “fair”. His father, a cabinet maker, was described as “honest and sober”. The St Annes Parish Magazine records that Percy Bailey (sic) of Springfield Rd, was a chorister at the Parish Church before going to Canada, where he enlisted in Canadian Army. His Canadian Circumstances of Death Card describes his death as follows: : “This soldier was hit in face by enemy shrapnel and was last seen starting for the rear. No detail of the actual circumstances of his death are available”. Had he survived Percy intended to take up fruit farming in Ontario. His brother Leonard, who remained in this country also served. Sources of Information CWG, Canadian Archives, St Annes Express (25/10/1918), Parish Magazine, Nov 1918.

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