About the product

Queen’s South Africa

Queen’s South Africa, bar Natal, 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medal, France Legion D’Honneur, Knight’s Badge 3rd Republic, Greece Order of the Redeemer, 4th Class Breast Badge, Lt Colonel H.V…

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SKU: J5805 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Nearly Extremely Fine

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Queen’s South Africa, bar Natal, 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medal, France Legion D’Honneur, Knight’s Badge 3rd Republic, Greece Order of the Redeemer, 4th Class Breast Badge, Lt Colonel H.V. Bailey, 5th Lancers.

 

Q.S.A. officially engraved in officer style: “Major ….5/Lcrs”
1914-15 Star impressed: “Major H. V. Bailey”
British War & Victory pair impressed: “Lt. Col. H. V. Bailey”

 

Award of the Legion D’Honneur announced in the London Gazette on 7th October 1919.

 

Award of the Greek Order of the Redeemer announced in the London Gazette on 21st August 1919

 

Henry Vincent Bailey was born on 9th November 1862, being the oldest son in a Military family he was educated at Cheltenham College and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 29th January 1881 into the Hertford Infantry Militia, followed by service with the Seaforth Highlanders before finding his place with the cavalry upon joining the 5th Royal Irish Lancers.

 

By the time of the Boer War he was already a most experienced officer, having spent many years as Captain & Adjutant of the 5th Lancers, he went into the Boer War as a Major, earning his ‘Natal’ bar to his Q.S.A. medal as Commandant of the Cavalry Depot at Mooi River.

 

Homeward Mail from India, China and the East 27th January 1902 reads:
“Major H.V. Bailey, Station Staff Officer, Fyzabad, and late officiating assistant adjutant-general, Burma District, is permitted to avail himself of special South Africa leave during 1902.

 

Following the end of the Boer War and having already served 22 years in the army, he retired as Major and Officer Commanding the 5th Lancers.

 

His retirement was interrupted when the Reserve of Officers were mobilised upon the outbreak of WW1 from 23rd September 1914, he was 52 years old and had a wealth of Army experience being assigned as a Brigade Major

 

He was first made Brigade Major of the 67th Infantry Brigade and arrived in France on 5th September 1915.

 

During the Salonika campaign he was made Brevet Lieutenant Colonel and served as Base Commandant in Itea & Bralo.

 

London Gazette 10th January 1918 reads: “Base Commandant – (Grade for purposes of pay as D.A.A. & Q.M.G.) Major H.V. Bailey, Reserve of Officers, from a D.A.A. & Q.M.G., 28th September 1917.

 

Army and Navy Gazette 3rd August 1918:
“Lancers – Brevet Lieut Col H.V. Bailey, Reserve of Officers, late Lancers, was recently promoted to his present rank for distinguished service in connection with military operations in Salonika.”

 

He lived to the old age of 99 and died on 2nd October 1961.

 

His Obituary from 1961:

 

“The late Lieut-Col H.V. Bailey A Distinguished Soldier

 

The death of Lieut-Colonel Henry Vincent Bailey, Chevalier Legion D’Honour, occurred on October 2nd, at the home of his son in law and daughter (Mr and Mrs Young) in Preston Candover.

 

Born on November 9th 1862, Colonel Bailey was the eldest son of a military family, and received his education at Cheltenham College. He had a distinguished military career, being commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders, subsequently transferring to the Cavalry, the 5th Royal Irish Lancers.
After a period in India, he saw active service in South Africa, where he served on the Staff, receiving the Queen’s Medal with Clasp. He retired from the army after the South African War, but was recalled as a Reserve Officer in the 1914-18 War as a Brigade Major, 67th Infantry Brigade, 22nd Division, and subsequently served as a Senior Staff Officer, L. of C. in Greece (Itea and Bralo) and was decorated by both the French and Greek Governments.

 

Colonel Bailey had lived in Preston Candover for the past ten years and was a familiar figure taking his morning walk, which he did with an amazing alacrity for a man of his years. A keen churchman all his life, he was a regular attendant at church, especially at Holy Communion, which in his last illness he continued to receive at home.
Almost to the last his mind was alert. He was keenly interested in world affairs, but the loss of his eye sight five years ago deprived him of the pleasure of reading, which, hitherto, had occupied much of his time.
It was at this time that his daughter and his son (Major Bailey) took to reading The Times to him each day. He was a great lover of music, and, in his blindness, found pleasure in listening to the radio programmes.
Cricket was another of his interests, and he followed, most closely, the broadcast Test Match scores.
It may well be said that this gallant old gentleman remained young at heart, his admirable willpower time and again during recent years triumphing over physical weakness. Throughout his prolonged illness he was blessed with the constant loving care of his family, to whom much sympathy has been extended.

 

The funeral service was on Friday of last week in Preston Candover Church, followed by interment in Tadley Churchyard. The Rev G.P. Bewley officiated, and, in a brief address, paid fitting tribute to the Late Colonel Bailey. Miss G.M. Coakes at the organ accompanied the 23rd Psalm, the hymn “Holy father, cheer our way” and the Nunc Dimittis, which was chanted as the cortege left the church.
The family mourners were Mr and Mrs W.A. Young (son-in-law and daughter), Major and Mrs Bailey (son and daughter-in-law), Group Captain and Mrs Morice (brother in law and sister), Mrs Mortimore (niece) and Mr A Young and Mr R V Smith (grandsons). Also present were Mrs H J Nitch-Smith, Mrs Keep and Mrs Cosier”