58422: Diary of Driver A Bailey

<p dir="ltr">Allan Bailey was born at Clifton-with-Norwood, Yorkshire. On leaving school he became a farm worker.</p> <p>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).</p> <p>The diary he kept from 1 Jan 1918 to 23 Apr 1919 gives a personal brief account of his experiences.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Possible interesting entries are: <br> 14 Jan 1918 - Samllpox breaking out at the camp. <br> 25 Jan 1918 - Aeroplanes bombed Bagdad. <br> 19 Mar 1918 - Heavy rain. Big flood destroyed a bridge and 2 Indians drowned. <br> 16 Oct 1918 - Letter from home saying Unlce John killed in France. (Note - It took 9 weeks for the news to reach him.) <br> 5 Nov 1918 - Admitted to hospital (with malaria), and discharged on 3 Dec 1918. <br> 17 Mar 1919 - Embark on SS 'Port Darwin' with 17,000 men. </p> <p>Hence the attachment 'Return Sail'.</p> <p>Allan Bailey died in 1984, a month after his 90th birthday. His diary is now in the possession of his grandson.</p>