BAILEY, Arthur Charles

Rank: 
Gunner
Unit / Base: 
Holding Operational Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Artillery
Service: 
Army
Number: 
14422036
Died : 
Sunday, March 25, 1945
Died in the UK
Age: 
19

Gunner Arthur Bailey was found dead on Westhampnett Lane Chichester, a road leading to Goodwood.  Ambulance men at the scene found that he had fractured his skull and it was later ascertained that he had fallen from a lorry in which he was a passenger.

Gunner Bailey was not identified as a Commando at his grave, nor on the Westminster Commando Roll of Honour, nor on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) database. However in late 2017 documents were discovered and these were passed to this Archive. We presented these documents to the CWGC who have now added his attachment to the Holding Operational Commando to their database. 

He was serving with the Holding Operation Commando (HOC) for the 1st Commando Brigade. He had been identified by Cpl. A.L. Cooke of the 1st Commando Brigade HOC *. The inquest was held at Chichester Courthouse and was presided over by the Coroner, Mr. N.H. Hignett.

The documents were in the form of a newspaper report from the Chichester Observer dated 31st March 1945 which reports he was attached to the Holding Operational Commando, 1st Commando Brigade.  Additionally a Royal Artillery Casualty Card which records that his unit at the time of death as RA (Commando Group Reception Camp).

His name has now been added to our own Roll of Honour, and his Commando service is now shown on the CWGC record.

Notes
* Post war Cpl A.L. Cooke was a member of the Commando Association. He is named on Lost Legion 3, a list of members they had lost contact with over the years [view] . His unit there was shown as HQ Special Service Bde.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 

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