Eric George Bailey
Encyclopedia
Eric George Bailey GC
(14 October 1906 – 12 January 1945) was a Sergeant with the New South Wales Police Force who was posthumously awarded the George Cross
, the highest British
(and Commonwealth
) award for bravery out of combat.
The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette
of 25 October 1946 and read:
Bailey had joined the Postmaster-General's Department at the age of 16. He joined the police on 16 March 1927, initially based at Sydney
's No.4 Station. He later transferred to the station at The Rock, a small township about 20 miles from Wagga Wagga on 17 September 1928. In May 1929 he transferred to Gundagai, and then from May 1932 to April 1939 served successively at Narrandera, Deniliquin
and Balranald. He was promoted to constable first class on 23 April 1938. On 20 April 1939 he moved again, this time to Moruya, here 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. He was transferred for the final time, to Blayney, just eight days before his death. He was survived by his wife Florence, daughter Doreen, and son John, who himself later became a police officer.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
(14 October 1906 – 12 January 1945) was a Sergeant with the New South Wales Police Force who was posthumously awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, the highest British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
) award for bravery out of combat.
The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
of 25 October 1946 and read:
Bailey had joined the Postmaster-General's Department at the age of 16. He joined the police on 16 March 1927, initially based at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's No.4 Station. He later transferred to the station at The Rock, a small township about 20 miles from Wagga Wagga on 17 September 1928. In May 1929 he transferred to Gundagai, and then from May 1932 to April 1939 served successively at Narrandera, Deniliquin
Deniliquin
Deniliquin, known locally as "Deni", is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales close to the border with Victoria.Deniliquin is located at the intersection of the Riverina and Cobb Highway approximately south west of the state capital, Sydney and north of Melbourne...
and Balranald. He was promoted to constable first class on 23 April 1938. On 20 April 1939 he moved again, this time to Moruya, here 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
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
on 3 August 1942. He was transferred for the final time, to Blayney, just eight days before his death. He was survived by his wife Florence, daughter Doreen, and son John, who himself later became a police officer.