Eric Bailey (GC)

Eric George Bailey
Eric George Bailey
Born	14 October 1906; Tenterfield, New South Wales
Died	12 January 1945 (aged 38); Orange, New South Wales
Resting place	Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney
	Police career
Country	Australia
Department	New South Wales Police Force
Service years	1927–1945
Rank	Sergeant 3rd Class
Awards	George Cross; George Lewis Trophy; Certificate of Merit, Royal Humane Society of Australasia

ribbon bar

Eric George Bailey

posthumous Australian recipient of the George Cross, the highest civil decoration for heroism in the United Kingdom and formerly in the Commonwealth.^[1]^[2]

Career

Bailey had joined the Postmaster-General's Department at the age of 16. He joined the police on 16 March 1927, initially based at

Moruya, where he was highly commended for his part in the rescue of survivors from the fishing trawler, Dureenbee, which had been attacked by a Japanese submarine on 3 August 1942. In 1945 he was transferred, for the final time, to Blayney, just eight days before his death.^[2]

George Cross

He was awarded the George Cross posthumously after being shot while on duty. The full citation was published in a supplement to the

London Gazette of 25 October 1946 and read:^[3]

St. James's Palace, S.W.1, 29th October, 1946.
The KING
has been graciously pleased to make the undermentioned awards of the GEORGE CROSS: —
Eric George BAILEY (deceased), Sergeant 3rd Class, New South Wales Police Force.
At about 8.30 p.m. on the 12th January, 1945, Sergeant Bailey (then a Constable 1st Class), whilst on duty in Adelaide Street, Blayney, had occasion to speak to a man whose movements were suspicious. During the questioning the man pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired a shot which struck Bailey in the stomach. The Constable immediately closed with his assailant who fired two more shots. Although fast succumbing to his injuries and suffering from the effects of shock and haemorrhage, Bailey continued the struggle with the offender and held him on the ground until assistance arrived. Shortly afterwards he died. The fortitude and courage manifested by this Police Officer, in spite of the mortal injuries sustained by him at the outset of the encounter, constitute bravery and devotion to duty of the highest order.

Personal life

Bailey was married, to Florence, and had a daughter and son.

He is buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, grave no.1959, Section 8 Anglican.

Bailey was a cousin (first cousin, once removed) of Victoria Cross recipient Jack French.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ "Police GC Awards". Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Eric George Bailey, GC". George Cross database. Archived from the original on 31 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
^ "No. 37771". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 October 1946. p. 5307.

[1] "Police GC Awards". Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2007.

[GCDB-2] "Eric George Bailey, GC". George Cross database. Archived from the original on 31 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-27.

[3] "No. 37771". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 October 1946. p. 5307.

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