Alexander (Alec) Bailey
Memorial: Downend - Christ Church
Regiment: Mercantile Marine
Medals: British War Medal, Mercantile Marine War Medal (1914-1918), Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921
Rank and number: Engineer's Steward
Parents: James William and Florence Mary Bailey
Home address: 2 Alexandra Gardens, Soundwell Road, Staple Hill, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Errand Boy (1911)
Date of birth: 1895
Place of birth: Norwich
Date of death: 14/03/1918
Buried/Commemorated at: Died at sea commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial and Staple Hill Memorial
Age: 22
Further information:
Alexander was born in Norwich a middle child of seven children with four brothers and two sisters. In 1911, Alexander was an errand boy.
On the day of his death, Alexander was serving aboard the British Passenger Steamer SS "Comrie Castle" which was on a voyage from London to New York. On March 14th 1918 it was torpedoed by U-boat UC-71 in the English Channel 5 miles off St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight. The vessel was damaged but not sunk and there were nine casualties including Alexander. SS Comrie Castle was a troop ship which was torpedoed of the Isle of Wight on 14/3/1918. The ship was beached and later refloated.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information has been provided by Sarah Hands, Volunteer Researcher for the South Gloucestershire War Memorials Web Site.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
https://www.cwgc.org/
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
https://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/1400.html
Findmypast (Soldiers Died during the Great War, 1901 and 1911 Census), researcher John Davis