Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mark Bailey a hosiery trade worker, born 1864 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Louisa Bailey (nee Reynolds, married in the 2nd quarter of 1883 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), born 1864 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Ernest Herbert was a schoolboy and was born in the 4th quarter of 1884 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, his siblings were William, born 1886 and Elizabeth, born 1890, both his siblings were born in Hinckley, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Clarkes Yard, Trinity lane, Hinckley, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Ernest was employed as a hosiery trade runner on and was residing in the family home at 34, Lower Bond Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire, together with his father, a hosiery trade worker, his mother and siblings, William, Lizzie, Matthew, born 1893, Mark Dennis, born 1895, Alfred, born 1897, Walter, born 1899 and Edith, born 1901, the latter five siblings were all born in Hinckley, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at 39, Mansion Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire, together with his father, a hosiery trade worker, his mother and siblings, William, a hosiery trade worker, Elizabeth, a hosiery trade worker, Matthew, a dye works trimmer, Dennis, a shoe trade worker, Alfred, a hosiery trade worker, Walter, a schoolboy, Edith, a schoolgirl, Florence, a schoolgirl, born 1904, Stephen, born 1907 and Lance, born 1910, the latter three siblings were all born in Hinckley, Leicestershire. The family home later resided at Manor Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire. Ernest married Lily Beasley in the Parish Church, Hinckley, Leicestershire on the 24th August 1913. Ernest attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve on the 17th February 1903 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Hinckley, Leicestershire and his age as 18 years and 3 months. He gave his trade or calling as hosiery hand and stated that he was unmarried. He confirmed that he was a serving member of the 1st Volunteer Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. He gave his father, Mark Bailey and mother, Louisa Bailey of 34, Bond Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire, his five brothers, William, Matthew, Dennis, Alfred and Walter and his two sisters, Lizzie and Edith as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5¼ inches in height, weighed 116 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as pale, his hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a scar between his eyebrows. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 6853 on the 18/2/03. Awarded the 3rd Class Certificate of Army Education on the 21/3/03. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 21/5/03. Granted Messing Allowance on the 17/11/03. Extended his service to complete 8 years with the Colours on the 26/5/04. Transferred to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 18/2/05. Granted 1st Good Conduct Badge on the 8/12/05. Awarded the 2nd Class Certificate of Army Education on the 24/4/06. Transferred to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 16/10/06. Ambulance Class Proficient on the 28/8/07. Awarded the Certificate “Military Telegraphist” at Belgaum, India on the 15/1/08. Granted 2nd Good Conduct Badge on the 17/2/08. Transferred to the Army Reserve on the 16/2/11. Transferred to “A” Reserve on the 25/2/11. Transferred to “B” Reserve on the 17/2/12. Mobilized at Leicester on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the -?-. Killed in action, place not known on the 25/10/14. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 17/2/03 – 17/2/05. India, 18/2/05 – 26/1/11. Home Service, 27/1/11 – 25/10/14. Total service 11 years 251 days. Ernest’s widow was awarded a weekly pension of 10 shillings to commence on the 24th May 1915. Ernest was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory Medals. Ernest’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 25 Oct-14 - The Battalion relieved the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 21st October at the Chemical Factory at Rue du Bois, the Germans had attempted to rush the trenches at dawn, but were beaten back with great loss, shelled intermittently all day. 2 Platoon of “D” Company were driven out by enfilade fire at about 9.00am, but retrieved the position by dusk, ordered to retire during night. Trench line was reinforced by 1 Company East Yorkshire Regiment and 2 Platoons of the Rifle Brigade during the day. “A” Company’s line was not seriously attacked. Casualties two Officers wounded, twenty two Other Ranks killed, sixty eight wounded and ninety eight missing.
On Saturday November 28th 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL ROLL OF HONOUR. – BROTHERS WHO DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY. We have been furnished with the following particulars of casualties to local men: – Two brothers, whose home was at Drayton, Leicestershire, have been killed fighting for their country. One was Arthur Edward Stokes, an Able Seaman (Reservist), who was on the Good Hope, lost on November 1. He was aged 25. His brother, Private Edgar Stokes, also a Reservist, of C Company, 1st Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action at Ypres on October 31. He was aged 27, and was formerly in the Birmingham City Police force. Their father, Mr. G. T. Stokes of Drayton, writes notifying those of the sad loss, and adds with reference to the soldiers and sailors generally. “We ought to be proud of our men’s splendid conduct, and of their cheerful and enduring pluck.” Official intimation of the deaths of two Hinckley men killed in action has just been received viz., Private Ernest Bailey and Private Harry Wragg, both of whom were in the 1st Leicester’s.