Corporal Cecil C Bailey

Cecil Charles 'Bill' Bailey was born on the 1st August 1921 in Southwark, London. [1]

He enlisted into The Royal Artillery (Territorial Army), and joined the 391st Battery of the 98th (Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry, Queen Mary’s) Field Regiment, RA on the 17 April 1939, at Clapham. At the time he enlisted he had been working as a clerk.

Bill was embodied (mobilised) on the 2 September 1939 and two days later was posted to the 390th Battery in the 144th (Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry, Queen Mary’s) Field Regiment, RA

On the 29 December 1939 he was posted to the Fixed Defences Thames & Medway, Sheerness. Then on the 15 October 1940 he was appointed Acting Lance Bombardier and posted to the 395th Coast Battery, RA.

Between the 31 December 1940 and the 15 June 1942 he was posted to four different Coastal Batteries or Regiment’s. On the 23 March 1942 he was appointed Acting Bombardier and on the 21 June 1942 he was granted the rank of War Substantive Bombardier.

Having volunteered for Airborne Forces he was posted to the Depot & School Airborne Forces at Hardwick Hall on the 20 October 1943 and granted the War Substantive rank of Corporal.

Upon completion of the selection process at Hardwick Hall he was sent on Parachute Course 92, at RAF. Ringway, 17 November to 3 December 1943. His Parachute Instructors comments: ‘Excellent man to take charge of stick, first class jumper and influence.’ Upon completion he was sent back to the Holding Company, at the Depot & School Airborne Forces at Hardwick Hall, until the 7 January 1944, when he was posted to the 156 Parachute Battalion. [2]

Bill joined the Battalion just as it had arrived back from action in Italy, and was settling into its billets in Leicestershire. He was assigned to 7 Platoon, ‘B’ Company.

On Monday, 18 September 1944 he took off in a Dakota aircraft, No. 624, of the 314th Troop Carrier Group, USAAF from Saltby airfield. This was part of the 2nd Lift of Operation ‘Market-Garden’ and he was bound for DZ ‘Y’ at Ginkel Heath, near Ede – approx. 8 – 10 miles Northwest of Arnhem – in Holland. He successfully jumped onto the drop zone, even though it was under fire, and made his way to the RV.

During the ensuing battle in and around the area of Wolfheze and Oosterbeek he was captured by the German Forces, on the 20 September 1944, and sent to Stalag 12A at Limburg in Germany. This was only a Transit Camp and later he was sent to Stalag 2A at Neubrandenberg.

The Camp was evacuated in mid April 1945, in the face of the advancing Russian Army, and the prisoners marched to the West, where they were liberated by advancing British Forces.

He was repatriated to the United Kingdom on the 11 May 1945, and upon completion of his ‘survivors leave’, he was attached to the 202nd Field Regiment, RA. on the 9 August 1945. Then on the 30 August he was posted to the Army Air Corps Holding Battalion.

On the 6 September 1945 he was posted to the 17th Parachute Battalion and appointed Acting Lance Sergeant. He was appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant on the 1st November 1945.

He was posted to the 1st Parachute Brigade Holding Depot on the 25 March 1945 and then promoted to War Substantive Sergeant on the 30 April 1946.

On the 9 May 1946 he was posted to the 16th Civilian Resettlement Unit, and then released to the Royal Army Reserve on the 18 July 1946. He was finally discharged from all military liability on the 30 June 1959.

His Military Conduct was reported as ‘Exemplary’, and his Testimonial read: ‘An excellent type of man, keen, intelligent and willing. Possesses initiative and is a capable and reliable worker. Clean and smart in appearance and honest and sober in his habits. Thoroughly honest and I recommend him for a position of trust.’

His profile picture was taken in 1945. 

Cecil ‘Bill’ Bailey died in August 1999. [3]

NOTES:

[1] This and other parts of his Service taken from a copy of his Service Records.

[2] Parachute Course Report, RAF. Ringway. December 1943.

[3] The Pegasus Journal. December 1999.