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Bailey, Wilfred Angus

Gunner Wilfred 'Bill' Bailey was a member of the 2/1 Field Regiment of the Royal Australian Artillery, Service No. NX3420, POW No. 3829.

From the AWM website: In early April 1941, the 2/4th, with the rest of the 6th Division, deployed to Greece to resist the anticipated German invasion. It fought a fierce battle at Vevi in northern Greece on 11 and 12 April and then withdrew through a series of rearguard positions until evacuated, by sea, from Megara on 26 April. The battalion landed on Crete the next day and eventually joined the force defending Heraklion airfield. When German paratroops landed on 20 May they were rapidly overcome in the area immediately around the airfield. The paratroops were, however, able to gain a foothold outside the defended area. This, combined with German successes elsewhere on Crete, brought about the evacuation of Heraklion by sea on 29 May.

Wilfred was born in Sydney, NSW  on 23 Aug 1913. He was living in Sydney when he enlisted on 7 Nov 1939. Post-war, he lived in Caroona, in central New South Wales. He retired to live in a war veterans home in Narrabeen, NSW. He died in Sydney on 7 Oct 1983. He was 70.

AWM Nominal Roll







Bull Bailey, Jan 1942. J Dowrick collection.


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