Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Bailey an agricultural labourer, born 1857 in Gilmorton, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Bailey (nee Tompkins, married in the 3rd quarter of 1879 in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district), born 1856 in Weston by Welland, Northamptonshire. William Alfred, a schoolboy was born in the 1st quarter of 1887 in Ashby Magna, Leicestershire, his siblings were Elizabeth Ann, born 1879 in Weston by Welland, Northamptonshire, John Charles, a schoolboy, born 1881, Edith Mary, a schoolgirl, born 1883, Susan Florence, a schoolgirl, born 1884, Annie Eliza, a schoolgirl, born 1885 and Margaret Ellen, born 1890, the latter five siblings were all born in Ashby Magna, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Ashby Magna, Leicestershire. In March 1901, William was absent from the family home at Main Street, Ashby Magna, Leicestershire, residing there was his father a railway labourer, his mother and siblings, Elizabeth, a Griswold stocking knitter, John, a railway platelayer, Edith, a Griswold stocking knitter, Annie a Griswold stocking knitter, Margaret and Maud Sarah, born 1894 in Ashby Magna, William was employed as a waggoners boy and was residing at the home of his employer George Hurst a farmer at Peatling Road, Ashby Magna, Leicestershire. In April 1911, Alfred remained absent from the family home in Ashby Magna, Leicestershire, residing there was his father a navvy, his mother and siblings, Annie, a hosiery trade worker and Margaret, a hosiery trade worker, also residing with the family was Alfred’s widowed paternal grandfather, Allen Bailey, an old age pensioner, born 1829 in Gilmorton, and also Alfred’s cousin Nellie Tebbs, a hosiery trade worker, born 1887 in Blaby, Leicestershire, William was employed as a Great central Railway Company ballast labourer, and was residing as a boarder at 4, Sidney Road, Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire. William attested into the Territorial Force Reserve to serve a 4 year engagement in the United Kingdom on the 22nd March 1915 in Leicester. He gave his home address as 164, Beatrice Road, Leicester, his age as 28 years and 1 month and his trade of calling as Constable. He gave his father, A. Bailey of Ashby Magna, Lutterworth, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 11 inches in height, weighed 128 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 37 inches, his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Territorial service on the 22nd March 1915 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 4157 on the 22/3/15. Embodied service commenced on the 22/3/15. Transferred to the 1/1st Leicester Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, as a Gunner and allocated the service number 742 on the 13/5/15. Appointed Shoeing Smith, “A” Battery, 318th Brigade Royal Field Artillery on the 30/5/16. Embarked from Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 2/7/16. Disembarked in Le Havre on the 3/7/16. Posted to 223rd Brigade on the 18/7/16. Died of wounds received in action in the field on the 18/10/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 22/3/15 – 1/7/16, 1 year 101 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/7/16 – 18/10/16, 109 days. Total service 1 year 210 days. William was awarded the British and Victory Medals. William’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.