WWI BWM with India General Service Medal. Bailey. 1st Mountain Battery. Rotherhithe.

Correctly named 66209 Gnr HA Bailey Ra although the IGS is named to RGA

Harold Alfred Bailey was born to Charles and Sarah in 1896.

We find the family in 1911 living at 6 Tunnel Road in Rotherhithe, London. Harold is working too as a hosiers department boy.

He enlisted to serve in November 1915.

He first served with No1 Mountain Battery which was part of the 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division from January 1916 until October 1918 the to be a part of the 4th Quetta Division in January 1919.

The 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division was a regular army division of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1903 after the Kitchener reforms of the Indian Army. During World War I it remained in India for local defence but it was mobilised for action on the North West Frontier on several occasions during the period. The Division was mobilised in 1919 for service during the Third Afghan War.

They consisted of 

21st Lancers

5th Cavalry

35th Sikhs

84th Punjabis

9 Mountain Battery, RGA

II Mountain Brigade, RGA

1st and 6th Mountain Batteries, RGA

In September 1919, Harold was transferred to the 2nd Mountain Battery who were in Jutogh in March 1919.

He qualified for his India General Service Medal with Afghanistan, North-West Frontier 1919 clasp in November 1921.

He married Mary McCarthy in 1923.

We find them living at 3 Rudford Road, Deptford in 1939 and Harold is a wharf/dock labourer.

Harold died in 1973.

The BWM has an original silk ribbon whereas the IGS has a modern replacement.