Artificer 2nd Class.
M/1019.
Born Horsham 30th July 1887.
Died at sea 31st May 1916.
Laid to rest in Roffey Cemetery.
Sussex Daily News 9 June 1916:
ROFFEY SAILOR’S FUNERAL,
VICTIM OF NORTH SEA BATTLE.
Herbert James Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bailey, of The Star Inn, Roffey, who was an engine room artificer on the destroyer “Acasta” and who lost his life in the great fight in the North Sea, was buried yesterday afternoon in the Roffey cemetery, and the occation [sic] proved a notable one in view of the splendid tribute made to the memory of the deceased and through him as a representative of the gallant men who are tirelessly guarding our shores and trade. The coffin, enveloped in the Union Jack, was borne on a gun carriage to All Saints’ Church. Lieutenant Kerr, from the Roffey Siege School, had charge of the entire arrangements, and many officers from the Camp were present to shew their respect and sympathy. The principal mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bailey (parents), Mr. Charles Bailey (brother), Miss Ethel Bailey and Miss Flo Bailey (sisters), Mrs. Winsland (Bexhill), Miss Jennings and Mr. Geo. Jennings.
West Sussex County Times, 10 June 1916:
SAILOR’S FUNERAL AT HORSHAM.
“KILLED IN ACTION.”
Much sympathetic interest was shown in the funeral at Roffey on Thursday afternoon of Herbert James Bailey, the second son of Mr and Mrs Charles Bailey, of the Star Hotel. An engine-room artificer on the destroyer Acasta, he was one of five killed by a shell that burst in the engine-room in the course of the great naval battle last week.
The deceased was well known and much esteemed in the Horsham district. He served his apprenticeship at the Horsham Engineering Works, and was a skilful fitter and turner. When he joined the Navy he passed his examinations with exceptional honours. Prior to being appointed to the Acasta, two years ago, Mr Bailey was on H.M.S. Venerable and H.M.S. Maidstone. He was 27 years of age and was unmarried. For some years he was a member of the Horsham Recreation Silver Band; and also discharged the secretarial duties in connection with both the Roffey Football Club and the Roffey Athletic Club. Hearing news on Saturday of the sinking of the Acasta, Mr Bailey, sen. wired to the Admiralty and received the cheering reply that the vessel was safe in harbour. Later in the day, however, a telegram was received notifying that young Bailey had been killed in action. The body reached Horsham at ten o’clock on Tuesday morning; and as the Portsmouth authorities could not spare seamen for the funeral, the arrangements were kindly taken over by the Roffey Camp authorities.
The Acasta was one of the British destroyers which the Germans claimed to have sunk. According to the “Daily Telegraph” of Tuesday she reached her base (a north east port) under tow of another destroyer and assisted by three tugs. Her arrival in the darkness was an impressive little picture. There was enough light left to show the scars of action, and the half-masted pennon indicating that she was bringing home her dead, six of them, from the great encounter on the other side of the North Sea. The Acasta was hit several times, but the shell that put her out of action killed five men. It was a 15 inch shrapnel.
AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE.
Large crowds of people assembled to watch the cortege wend its way slowly from the Star Hotel to the Roffey Church. The children and teachers of All Saints School, in company with Mr. J.J. Riley, J.P. (Chairman of the Horsham Council School Managers) and the headmaster (Mr H.T. Swann), reverently lined the footway along their front, and the school flag hung at half mast. The coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, was hidden with flowers. Lieut. Kerr was in command of the troops from the Siege School School-bearers, firing party and a goodly muster of rank and file attending from Roffey Camp. The chief mourners were:- Mr and Mrs Charles Bailey, Mr Charles Bailey, junior (brother of the deceased), Misses Ethel and Flo Bailey (sisters), Mr and Mrs Winsland (Bexhill), Mr George Rock, of Brighton (cousin of the deceased), Mr George Jennings, Miss Jennings. There also followed: Major Campbell Fraser (Recruiting Officer at Horsham), Commander R.ff. Powell, R.N., Captain Arthur Smith, Sergt. Major H.C. Teague, Messrs Arthur Gibbs, Frank Gibbs and H. Mills (Horsham Engineering Works), J. Mead, F. Pepper (naval recruiter); H. Hull, F. Charman, W.C. Scott and E.A. Greenfield (Licensed Victuallers’ Association); A.W. Dancy, G. Murrell, F.F. Holland, J. Butler, G. Nailard, W.T. Jupp, and many others.
At the church gate the procession was met by the Vicar of Roffey (Rev. W.R. Rayson, M.A.), the Rev. T.H.W. Clapton B.A., and the surpliced choir. The service was fully choral, and included the 90th Psalm (“Lord, thou hast been our refuge”) to tone 8a; the Russian contakion to the departed; hymn No. 136, “On the resurrection morning,” and No. 540, “Eternal Father, strong to save.” The Lesson was read by the Rev. T.H.W. Clapton, and the Vicar took the closing part of the service. The National Anthem (two verses) was followed by the “Dead March” in “Saul.” The organist was Mr J.J. Marsh. Mr Goodhart Godfrey, carrying aloft the cross, led the procession from the church, across the road, into the burial ground. Here, in the presence of a large gathering, the coffin was reverently lowered into the grave, the Vicar reciting the committal sentences. Three volleys were fired over the grave, and the sounding of the “last Post” closed an impressive scene.
The large number of wreaths and crosses attracted much attention. The full list was as follows:- From our dear boy’s sorrowing Mother and Father; A last tribute to our noble brother from Charlie and Florrie; A token of our love and sorrow from our dear Bert, from Ethel and Florrie; To dear Bert with love from Auntie and Uncle and all at Bexhill; In loving memory from Doff; With deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Stoner and the girls; In remembrance and with much sympathy from the Horsham Engineering Works; To dear Bert from Mr and Mrs Gibbs and Frank; A token of sympathy from Roffey schools (“he did his duty”); to dear Bert with deepest sympathy from Mrs Jennings and family; With deepest sympathy from members of the Star Inn Friendly Society; In loving memory from the President and Officers of the late Roffey Athletic Club; With deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Liley and family (Norfolk Arms); With deepest sympathy from Miss Edwards, Mrs. B. Lilley and Mrs Botting; With deepest sympathy from Messrs. Murrell Bros; With deepest sympathy from the Members of the 131st Canadian Siege Battery; With deepest sympathy from Mrs Wilson and her mother; With Mr and Mrs J.P. Hornung’s deep sympathy (West Grinstead Park); From officers and men of the Canadian Reserve Siege Artillery Depot; From George, Ethel and Rene with deepest sympathy; In token of gratitude to the lad who died for us, Commander and Mrs Powell; With sincere sympathy from Mr and Mrs F.L. Roberts and family, “He died doing his duty for the British Empire”; With sincere sympathy from Mrs L. Hollands, George and Wallie; In fond remembrance and deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Harold Mitchell; With sincere sympathy from Horsham and Crawley Licensed Victuallers Association; From Mrs H. Miller and family; From Miss Hutchings; From Members of Sergeants Mess Roffey Camp with deepest sympathy; To Bert from his old chum Herb with deepest sympathy; From H.J. Lintott and E.W. Lintott; From Captain and Mrs Arthur Smith; From Mr and Mrs Liley, sen., Maggie and Lizzie; Mr and Mrs Geo. Scott; Mr George Rock (Brighton); Mr and Mrs Pepper; Officers, N.C.O.’s and Men of 130th Siege Battery, R.G.A.; Mr and Mrs Burch and family. Two beautiful harps, one from the residents of Roffey, and one from the tradesmen, bore the inscription:- “To Herbert J. Bailey, late H.M.S. Acasta. In loving sympathy and as a token of appreciation of the gallant sacrifice he and his brave comrades made for King and Country.”
Yesterday (Friday) morning one of the deceased seaman’s shipmates on board the Acasta journeyed from Rustington (where he is home on leave) to Horsham and gave the parents interesting details of the destroyer’s experiences. He said that Mr Bailey was very popular on board.
Mr and Mrs Bailey and family desire to return their most grateful thanks for the many kind expressions of sympathy received in their bereavement. The number of letter make individual replies impossible, so will friends please accept this as the only intimation.
