Young doctor wed just before heading off to World War I
DOCTOR Guy Bailey was single when he signed up for war service in March 1915 but he married the daughter of a knight several weeks later.
Tasmania
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HOBART doctor Guy Bailey was single when he signed up for war service in March 1915 but he married the daughter of a knight several weeks later.
Captain Bailey, who had recently been working at the Zeehan Hospital, married Ida Douglas at All Saints Church in South Hobart on April 3 and left for Egypt on May 25.
Ida was a daughter of Lady (Ida) Douglas and the late Sir Adye Douglas, a former premier of Tasmania.
Guy was born in Western Australia in 1888 but educated in Hobart at the Hutchins School. He had also worked at the Hobart General Hospital and was a popular cricketer and footballer.
The report of the Bailey-Douglas wedding in the Zeehan and Dundas Herald described the bride’s pretty white gown and noted that the groom was in uniform.
Their wedding gifts included a silver tea and coffee service and tray from the men of the Army Services Corps at Claremont.
Guy travelled with 7th Field Ambulance to Gallipoli but was returned home to Australia after suffering a severe case of enteric fever.
Despite the need for rest, he acted as the ship’s doctor for the return voyage and once back in Tasmania conducted medical examinations on new recruits.
He returned to war in March 1916, posted to France with the 13th Field Ambulance and later serving as regimental medical officer for the 52nd Battalion.
On August 10, 1916 he wrote to his young wife back in Tasmania:
My darling wife, Here I am, still going strong. We have had a pretty strenuous time lately & that is the reason I have not written for about 10 days. The day after I wrote last week I was sent back to the C.C.S. but I was only there 24 hours & when I tell you I was working solidly for 18 out of the 24 hours you can see there was something doing. As soon as I got back here I started work here & we have been going solidly ever since, but now things have slackened down a bit & we are now on 12 hour shifts so that makes it very much better.
The King was around to see us yesterday but he did not spend very much time here: I expect he had a very big round to do in the time. I had a letter from Bruce to say he was over in England, in fact in Manchester. Also that he had written to the Mater to say he was badly hit, I am sorry about that as it was not serious at all. I have just received he case with your photos in & also the lock of hair; it is great to get it, you can’t know what a joy it is to get anything like that & also letters. We seem so shut off from you all & so far away from you.
I hope we will not be away much longer now as the news at present is very good. I hear the fellows cheering now & am just wondering what it is. The weather has been very good up till
now but today is has started to rain but I hope it will not last long. Well my dearest there is no news at present so I will say goodnight. With all love & kisses to you & Babs from always, Your very loving hubby, Guy.
In November 1916 he was Mentioned in Despatches by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig for
distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty in the field.
Guy was killed in action on March 27, 1917, when the battalion was going into action near Lagincourt.
He was buried near the spot where he fell, about 500m beyond the village of Vaulx. He was survived at home by his widow Ida and young daughter Adye who were later awarded a pension of about $400 per fortnight.
Captain Dr Guy Brooke Bailey is remembered at tree number 206 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue in Hobart as well as at Hutchins School, St David’s Cathedral and St John’s Church at New Town.
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