Joseph Cameron Bailey was the partner of Anna Seehusen and father of her three children.

 

Pre 1914: six years volunteer service in 4th Squadron, Australian Light Horse 13th Regiment (militia) - four years as sergeant, two years as OMS

 

10 Dec 1914: enlisted into 2nd Tropical Force of Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN & MEF) at Brisbane.

• age 33 years 1 month
• height 5ft 10ins
• weight 170lbs
• chest 36 - 38 3/4 inches
• complexion - fresh
• eyes - blue
• hair - brown touched grey
• religious denomination - Methodist

19 Dec 1914: promoted Acting Sergeant

 

12 Jan 1915: promoted Colour Sergeant

 

25 Jan 1915: Allocated to embark for New Guinea on 'Eastern' with 2nd Tropical Force but was discharged

 

26 Feb 1915: Transferred to No.20 (NSW) Battalion AIF

 

15 Apr 1915: Qualified as 2nd Lt by attendance No.18 School and examination

 

24 Jun 1915: Commission recommended by commanding officer

 

26 Jun 1915: Sailed from Sydney with 20th Battalion on 'Berrima'

 

Late July 1915: 20th Battalion commenced training in Egypt

 

Aug 1915: Attended officer school in Zeitoun, Cairo. Group included uncle Major (Lt Colonel in militia) Harry Bailey of 9th Battalion AIF.

 

22 Aug 1915: 20th Battalion landed at Anzac Cove.

 

Sept/Dec 1915: "In the more dangerous sector of Russell's Top, Lieutenant Bailey and the scouts of the 20th battalion explored No-Man's Land at The Nek. On at least two occasions this was effected in broad daylight by means of the covering fire of the garrison, which carefully shot down all the Turkish periscopes in the sector while Sergeant Vince and Corporal Brennan crept forward to the enemy's parapet and examined such trenches as were within view."...

"Meanwhile on Nov. 18 the Turks had fired a mine near another shallow tunnel (H4), killing 2 Australians and wounding 3. The Australians cleared away the debris, and then pushed forward a barricade into the Turkish tunnel in which this mine had been fired. There the enemy built a barricade facing them and for several days firing continued between the two, Lieut. Bailey of the 20th shooting two Turks with his revolver, and three others being hit with bombs.

(Footnote 37: Lieut J C Bailey, 20th Bn, Builder of Brisbane, b. Drayton, Q'land 31 October 1881)

Extracts from 'Official History of the Australian Army in the War of 1914-18 Vol.2 by C.E.W. Bean 1924

 

12 Sept: 1915: Sent to hospital, Gallipoli Peninsular (wounded)

 

29 Sept: 1915: rejoined unit from Egypt.

 

14/15 Nov 1915: "For his courageous conduct at Russell's Top, Gallipoli, on November 14/15 - 1915 - when single-handedly he drove a party of the enemy from one of the surface tunnels back into their own line. He also did splendid work in reconnoitering enemy trenches and securing photographs at great personal risk. He was severely wounded on 12/12/15 and has since returned to Australia."

 

16 Nov 1915: recommended for French War Cross (Croix de Guerre) for "two reconnaissances similar to those of Brennan and Vince. has also shewn conspicuous gallantry in work in Tunnels when in touch with the enemy." [Sergeants Brennan and Vince 20th Battalion received similar recommendation in the same document for advancing together over ground covered be the enemy's machine guns and by his trenches in daylight.]

 

8 Dec 1915: promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

 

12 Dec 1915: Quotation from letter: "On Sunday 12th Dec I was sitting quite still in a dug out immediately after the order for evacuation had come and 4 of us officers were talking about it when a 6" shell just dropped in and hit my leg, exploding at the same time. It took my leg off just below the knee..."

 

12 Dec 1915: transferred to hospital Walker's beach, Gallipoli. Left leg amputated. (Walker's beach not identified - presumed to be the clearing on North Beach north of Anzac Cove)

 

15 Dec 1915: Admitted 18th General Hospital ex Hospital ship "Oxfordshire".

 

16 Dec 1915: Transferred to 19th General Hospital, Alexandria.

 

20 Dec 1915: Grace Bailey advised of wounding.

 

4 Jan 1916: Grace Bailey advised that condition improving.

 

31 Jan 1916: Transferred to 1st Army General Hospital Heliopolis (Cairo)

 

7 Feb 19196: Transferred to "Nestor" for repatriation to Australia

 

9 Feb 1916: Struck off strength of 20th Battalion

 

21 Feb 1916: Grace Bailey advised JCB returning to Australia

 

13 Mar 1916: Arrives home on "Nestor"

 

14 Apr 1918: Living in  Sydney = "will be in Brisbane shortly"

 

May 1916: Visits Grace and the children where she was teaching at Moorang (south of Rosevale, QLD) just before going south on the "Sydney Mail" train.

 

7 May 1916: Returns to Sydney

 

8th May 1916: "A returned solder with only one leg has become  a fairly familiar to Brisbaneites during this last week or so." " One one breast he wear the ribbon of the DSOI and on the other the Albert medal (obtained some years ago) and now he has to go to France to be invested with some French medal"..."He was wounded four times before losing his leg and now carries about in his right arm a Turkish bullet as a memento."

 

undated: a photograph exists of JCB in AIF uniform with Captain's insignia with medal ribbons on both breasts - striping pattern of ribbon on his right side matches that of the 1st class Albert medal.

 

13 Sept 1916: awarded the Serbian Karageorge medal th class with swords.

 

28 Oct 1916: Appointment terminated. Discharge due to medical unfitness.

 

However, after the war, he was appointed a Lieutenant in the Australian Army reserve from 1 Jan 1921 (2nd Military District in New South Wales.) This is recorded in Australian Forces 28 July 1921 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette p.1139.