The Rushden Echo, November 15th, 1918, trancribed by Greville Watson

Rushden’s Casualty List - Lance Corporal (Arthur) Sidney Bailey

We are sorry to learn that Mr and Mrs Joseph Bailey, of 102, Harborough-road, Rushden, have heard unofficially that their son, Lance-Corpl. Sidney Bailey, M.M., Northants Regiment, was killed in action on November 4th.  It is unfortunate that he should thus have met his end just prior to the cessation of hostilities, especially as he had just been awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the field.  The news is sent by the deceased soldier’s officer, Capt. G. H. Gadsen, who, in addition to mentioning that Corpl. Bailey was hit in the head by a machine gun bullet at Preux-au-Bois on November 4th and died instantly, suffering no pain, adds: “I have known your son for the last 2½ years, and for the greater part of that time he was cooking for our officers’ mess.  We then got short of good men, and I promoted him Lance-Corpl., and just before he was killed he heard that he had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action.  I can assure you that you have the sympathies of the whole company and particularly my own, as I have known him such a long time.”  The late Lance-Corpl Bailey, who was 28 years of age, joined the Colours in the week following the outbreak of war, viz., in August, 1914, and went to France early in 1915, going right through without a scratch up to the day on which he was killed.  Before enlistment he was employed by Mr Fred Knight, boot manufacturer, and as a lad passed through the Park-road Baptist Sunday school, his name being inscribed on the Roll of Honour of that church.  He was home on leave three weeks ago, and then attended the services at the Park-road Baptist Church .

Gallant Soldier’s Death - Rushden Military Medallist Instantly Killed

Lance-Corpl. Sidney Bailey, of the Northants Regt., fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Bailey, of 102 Harborough-road, Rushden, has been reported in a letter from his captain, as killed on Nov. 4th. The letter states: “I am writing to tell you how sorry we are that your son has been killed. He was hit in the head by a machine gun bullet at Preux-an-Bois on the 4th of this month, and I know it will be a relief to you to know that he died instantly, and suffered no pain. I have known your son for the last 2 and a half years, and for a greater part of that time he was cooking for our officers’ mess. We then got very short of good men, and I promoted him lance-corporal. Just before he was killed he heard that he had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action.” He returned to France from leave on Oct. 31st, and was employed by Mr. F. Knight, J.P., previous to joining up. He enlisted in August, 1914, and went to France in 1915. He was 25 years of age, and had never been wounded.

Rushden Military Medallist Instantly Killed

(as above with this addition)
He has two brothers serving in France and one in England, and another brother has been discharged. A Rushden officer writes that the deceased solder, he believes, is awarded the Military Medal. The officer writing home says: "In the draft of men I brought along up to this division I found Sidney Bailey. ... He lent me his mug for a sip of cold water on a day we badly needed it. Later he kindly procured me some hot water, which I equally needed!".