Life Story

Cecil Charles 'Bill' Bailey was born on the 1st August 1921 in

Southwark, London. Little is known of his childhood. He initially

enlisted at Clapham in 1939 with the Royal Artillery (Territorial

Army). He was then posted to 391st Battery, 98th (Surrey and

Sussex Yeomanry, Queen Mary’s) Field Regiment, RA on the

17th April 1939. Prior to enlistment his service records show he

had been working as a clerk.

Bill mobilised on the 2nd September 1939 and two days later

was posted to 390 Battery,144th (Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry,

Queen Mary’s) Field Regiment, RA. Bill moved around quite a

lot during the early years of the war - On the 29th December

1939 he was posted to the Fixed Defences Thames & Medway

in Sheerness. On the 15th October 1940 he was promoted to

Acting Lance Bombardier and posted to the 395th Coast

Battery, RA. Between the 31st December 1940 and the 15th

June 1942, he was posted to four different Coastal Batteries.

On the 23 March 1942 he was appointed Acting Bombardier

and on the 21st June 1942 he was granted the rank of War

Substantive Bombardier.

Having volunteered for the newly formed Airborne Forces, in

October 1943 he was sent for training at Hardwick Hall and

granted the War Substantive rank of Corporal. After

successfully completed the training and selection process, Bill

was then sent on Parachute Course 92, at RAF Ringway