Pte H Bailey 8th Bn Hampshire Regt

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

Today in sorting out a box of old ephemera, I came across a certificate to this soldier '242387 Rfn H Bailey 8th Hampshire Regt', thanking him for his service with the Egyption EF. Were these certificates common issue?

Any info on this soldier Marc?

Ian

[Guest Pete Wood]

It's terrible, and inevitable. It's the crash you can see coming.

I feel like the chicken who hears a knock on the door of the hen-house - and I know that the fox is outside......

Okay. Ian, should you have any wish to sell the said article, I might (you know I mean, WOULD!!) be interested. That's because he served with the Isle of Wight Rifles, and I admit to having a little interest in their history

I don't believe Harold Bailey was an 'Islander.' But, hopefully, Marc can tell us more - his number is also unusual.

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

I don't believe Harold Bailey was an 'Islander.' But, hopefully, Marc can tell us more - his number is also unusual.

Do you mean to say that he has a copy of Bailey's MIC, medal roll, part service record and photograph of Bailey in uniform like me?

I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

Forget to mention this certificate is in its original envelope of despatch with Bailey's address on the front......................

[Guest Pete Wood]

And here I am swallowing the bait......

Come on Big 'un, spill the beans with the info. Where is he from, and what's the deal on his number? His number seems to be in a batch that was issued to 15 Hants, too. Did he end up being sent back to the UK, sick amd was then re-numbered?

Oh yeah, and PM me with the damage if it is for......

[Marc Thompson]

Do you mean to say that he has a copy of Bailey's MIC, medal roll, part service record and photograph of Bailey in uniform like me?

I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

Well I have a copy of his MIC - 1 out of 4 ain't bad I suppose.

RT - Having passed the 10,000 mark on my database last week (yippee!) I can tell you that this number sequence can be found across almost all the Hamps Battalions and seems to be post 1916. I don't really have enough data, knowledge or intelligence about service numbering to explain more

Come on IB, what's the deal on his number then?

Any chance of a scan of his photo?

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

These items are not for sale.

[Guest Pete Wood]

RT - Having passed the 10,000 mark on my database last week (yippee!) I can tell you that this number sequence can be found across almost all the Hamps Battalions and seems to be post 1916. I don't really have enough data, knowledge or intelligence about service numbering to explain more

Marc, I only commented on the number as not one soldier who was killed in 8 Hants appears to have a number from this 'batch.'

When Ian first posted this exciting (for me) bit of info, I put the number into CDGW CD-Rom, and you're right Marc - it appears to be across the board. However, there seemed to be a few more 15 Hants soldiers (who died) with numbers close to this.

I have found a couple of officers who were posted from 8 Hants to 15 Hants (in time for the attack on Flers in September 1916), and wondered if maybe (as it was quiet in Palestine/Egypt) if there was a connection; former sick 8 Hants men being sent to France instead of returning to the sun.

It was only a theory, and I'd hoped that this chap's number might throw some light on the subject.

Marc, he's a big lad is that Ian. We'll never be able to hold him down, while he is sober. You and I will have to pour a few dozen glasses of the black stuff down his neck at the next TF Study Group meeting to get the info out of him.