58422: Diary of Driver A Bailey

Allan Bailey was born at Clifton-with-Norwood, Yorkshire. On leaving school he became a farm worker.

In 1916 he joined the 66th Brigade R.F.A. and was posted to Mesopotamia. Coming from a farming background Allan was familiar with working with horses. Therefore, he was a driver - of a horse and cart (not motorised transport).

The diary he kept from 1 Jan 1918 to 23 Apr 1919 gives a personal brief account of his experiences.

The diary starts with daily entries, even including 'nothing doing'. It should be remembered that soldiers were not actively engaged in battle every day. Eventually the phrase was replaced by a horizontal stroke, and as the year progressed he only recorded details that he deemed to be relevant.

Possible interesting entries are:
14 Jan 1918 - Samllpox breaking out at the camp.
25 Jan 1918 - Aeroplanes bombed Bagdad.
19 Mar 1918 - Heavy rain. Big flood destroyed a bridge and 2 Indians drowned.
16 Oct 1918 - Letter from home saying Unlce John killed in France. (Note - It took 9 weeks for the news to reach him.)
5 Nov 1918 - Admitted to hospital (with malaria), and discharged on 3 Dec 1918.
17 Mar 1919 - Embark on SS 'Port Darwin' with 17,000 men.

Hence the attachment 'Return Sail'.

Allan Bailey died in 1984, a month after his 90th birthday. His diary is now in the possession of his grandson.