Rushden Echo, 23^rd February 1917, transcribed by Kay Collins

From Private to Lieutenant - Rushden Soldier’s Rapid Success
We have pleasure in reporting that Mr J Marshall Bailey, Int.B.Sc., son of Mr and Mrs J Bailey, of Moor-road, Rushden, has been given a commission in the 3^rd Northants Regiment.

Joining the 8^th Northants in January, 1916, when he was only 18 years of age, he received his first stripe in about a week, and soon afterwards was made a sergeant. Last October he began a course of training with the 9^th Officers Cadet Battalion in Scotland, and in the final examination he secured second place.

Lieut Bailey was educated at the Northampton School, and was a member of the Cadet Corps in connection with that school.

Rushden Officer Honoured
Lieutenant Marshall Bailey Awarded the Military Cross
The First M.C. to Come to Rushden
We are pleased to report that Mr and Mrs J B Bailey, of Moor-road, Rushden, received official news on Tuesday morning that their only son, Lieutenant Marshall Bailey, has been awarded the Military Cross for great personal gallantry and initiative on the field of battle on August 16th 1917.

Lieut. Bailey is an old boy of the Northampton and County School, which he left shortly before joining the Colours, having passed the Inter. B.Sc. examination of the London University. He was a member of the School Cadet Corps from its formation, holding N.C.O. rank.

In the engagement on August 16th, he was buried early in the day through the explosion of a shell, and he later received wounds in the shoulder and foot. He was at home in Rushden on sick leave for 18 days from August 21st, returning to his battalion in France on September 8th.

Although but 20 years of age, Lieut. Bailey is a gigantic figure of a man, standing 6ft. 6ins. in his boots.

The official account of the brave exploit which earned for him the well merited award is as follows:-

“This officer showed the greatest personal gallantry throughout the operations on the Westbock Ridge, August 16th, 1917. On the Company Commander becoming a casualty, Lieut. Bailey himself applied first-aid under fire to the officer, and then took charge of the company. He had previously been wounded in the charge on the Ridge, and was suffering both from the wound and from the shock consequent from being partially buried by a shell. He then led the company forward, and showed great judgement in consolidating the position gained with part of his men, while at the same time forcing out strong patrols to threaten the enemy in front. He showed great organising ability in maintaining touch with the Brigade on our right and the Regiment on his left. The whole operation was carried out under heavy fire, and a threatened counter-attack, with the knowledge that there was no assistance available. In spite of his wounds, he remained in charge of his company until ordered by his Commanding Officer to remain at Battalion Headquarters.”

This is the first Military Cross which has been awarded to a Rushden officer, and the whole town will share the justifiable pride of Mr and Mrs Bailey in their son’s self-sacrificing gallantry.

Miliary Cross—Capt. Marshall Bailey, of the Northants regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Bailey, of 20, Moor-road, Rushden, attended an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, when he received the Military Cross at the hands of His Majesty the King for exceptional gallantry on the field as previously reported in the “Rushden Echo.” It had been hoped that the Investiture would have been held out of doors, but circumstances prevented this, and it took place inside the Palace.

Mr Marshall Bailey, M.C., has been asked to accept the position of Superintendent of the Rushden St. John Ambulance Division, and has, we understand, given his consent. It will be remembered that we reported some months ago that Supt. T. Swindall wished to resign, but, at the urgent request of the members, he kept on until a successor should be appointed.

The Birthday Honours List published on Thursday included the award of the M.B.E., Civil Division to Capt. J. Marshall Bailey, M.C., A.R.P. Officer to the Rushden Urban Council and Corps Supt. of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

Captain Bailey won his Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Westhoek Ridge in August, 1917. He is connected with the firm of B. Ladds, Ltd., and has been Corps Superintendent of the St. John Brigade for 14 years. Before that he was Superintendent of the Rushden Division for six years.

He assumed charge of Rushden’s A.R.P. arrangements in 1937.

Captain Bailey said on Thursday: “I think one may safely say that whatever I have done it is also a compliment and honour to others who have done jolly well. I have got the award, but the job has been done by everybody.

“The Regional Commissioner’s Inspector has been more than satisfied with the way we have overcome our difficulties in A.R.P. work. We have had our trials but we did not break down. The hard work was done back in 1937 and 1938. The making of the machine is a great deal harder than working it.”

M.B.E. Decorated
Rushden A.R.P. Officer’s Impressions at Buckingham Palace
Capt. J. Marshall Bailey, M.C., A.R.P. Officer to the Rushden Urban Council, was summoned to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday morning and was invested by the King as a Member of the British Empire Order – an award made in recognition of his A.R.P. services.

Describing his visit, Capt. Bailey said yesterday: “It made you feel proud you were British, because you were among people who had got things done.

“The first man to be decorated was a shunter from the Southern Railway who had won the George Cross – he was received even before a man like Lord Nuffield. Then there was a string of Air Force fighter pilots who had all brought down Boches, and numbers of A.R.P. people who had done work in the blitzes. It was a cross-section of manhood and womanhood that you felt proud to be among.”