Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Bailey, a furnace labourer, born 1862 in Scalford, Leicestershire and his wife Annie Bailey (nee Bennett, married on the 22nd October 1888 in Hadnall, Shropshire), born 1864 in Prees Green, Hadnall, Shropshire. Emanuel John was born in the first quarter of 1891 in Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, Emma Eliza, born 1891 in Ab Kettleby, in April 1891 the family home was at Main Street, Ab Kettleby. In March 1901 Emanuel was residing in the family home at Pump Lane, Asfordby, Leicestershire, together with his father, a blast furnace keeper, his mother and siblings, Eliza, Elizabeth, born 1893 and Sarah, born 1895, the latter two siblings were both born in Ab Kettleby. In April 1911 Emanuel was employed as a furnace man and was residing in the family home at Asfordby together with his father, a furnace keeper, his mother and sister Elizabeth.
Emanuel’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 10006, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 2nd Battalion. And it was to join this Battalion, that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 12th December 1914. In early March 1915 he was wounded in action and was admitted on the 14th March to the 1st Northern General Hospital in Newcastle, nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as has having been killed in action on the 24th August 1915. He was buried in Rue-du-Bacquerot No.1 Military Cemetery, Laventie, France. He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal. His mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of twelve shillings and six pence to commence on the 9th February 1918.
The War Diary records: 24 Aug-15 - In the same sub section of trenches. “C” Company relieved “A” Company in the front line at 8.30am and “D” Company relieved “B”0 Company in the front line at 2.00pm. “A” and “B” Company’s returning to sub section reserve. Our 4.5” Howitzers and field guns breached the enemy’s parapet opposite our trenches and also shelled on DISTILLERY, our machine guns co-operated at German wire. During the night our machine guns opened fire at intervals where the Germans might be repairing their parapets and wire and also indirect fire on to RUE D’ENFER. The Germans sniped by day but this slackened considerably at night only desultory Machine Gun fire being resorted to. Lieutenant Colonel WYLD 16th KINGS ROYAL RIFLE CORPS arrived to stay three days with the Battalion for instructional purposes. The Commanding Officer 6th OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and Company Commanders of the 6th OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and the 12th KING’S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY visited the sub section prior to taking them over. Brigadier General STEWART Commanding the 58th Brigade also visited the sub section. Private BAILEY was killed and two men wounded during the last 24 hours. Two additional platoons of the 6th WILTSHIRE REGIMENT were attached in trenches for instruction.
On Thursday, September, 2nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – Another Asfordby man has fallen in the war in the person of Pte. EMMANUEL JOHN BAILEY, of the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bailey, of Asfordby. He enlisted on August 12th, 1914, and was wounded at Neuve Chapelle. After spending some time in England he returned to France in May, and on the day before he was killed wrote home saying he was well, the news of his death on the 24th August, being conveyed to his parents by Pte. R. A. Woods, who was present at his burial, before joining the Army the deceased, who was 24 years of age, was employed at the Holwell Iron Co.’s works, where his father is a foreman in the blast furnace department. This is the second recent bereavement in the family, the deceased’s cousin, Mr. William Richard Bailey, of the 1st 4th Lincolnshire Regiment (T.F.), who was surveyor to the Holbeach Urban District Council before joining the Army, being killed in Flanders only twelve days earlier.
On Friday September 3rd 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – AB KETTLEBY. – A FORESTER KILLED AT THE FRONT. – It is with great regret that we have to announce the death of Bro. Emmanuel John Bailey who was killed at the front on Tuesday, August 24th. The sad news was communicated to the secretary, Bro. J. W. Waite, P.H.C.J.W., by his mother, Sister Ann Bailey, of Asfordby, and formerly of this village. Both mother and son were respected members of the Court Ab Kettleby Reliance, No. 7,999 of the Ancient Order of Foresters. The news was conveyed to Sister Bailey by one of the deceased’s chums, a stretcher bearer, who stated that he saw him killed by a sniper, and that he was unconscious for two hours. The writer added that deceased never regained consciousness, and he was present at his funeral. It will be some consolation to his parents to know that their son died nobly doing his duty to his King and country, and that his death was painless. The deceased, who was only 24 years of age, had been a member of the Court for 20 years, having joined when he was only four years of age. He had been home seriously wounded, and had only recently returned to the front. He was a bright intelligent lad, and was highly respected by all the members, and a large circle of friends, and the greatest sympathy is felt for his parents and relatives. And in the same issue under the heading: “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – “DEATHS.” BAILEY.- Killed in action, August 24th, Private Emmanuel John Bailey, the beloved and only son of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, Asfordby, age 24 years. He has done his duty. And in the same issue under the heading; “THANKS.” – Mr. and Mrs. Bailey wish to thank all kind friends for sympathy shown to them in their sad and sudden bereavement.
On Monday September 20th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – The casualties reported from the Base under date Sept. 2nd, and officially published on Saturday, include the following:- KILLED. Private E. J. BAILEY (10006), 2nd Batt. Leicestershire Regiment. DIED OF WOUNDS. Private G. H. A. SIMPKIN (10013), 2nd Batt. Leicestershire Regiment.