
Eric George Bailey
GC (14 October 1906 – 12 January 1945) was a sergeant with the
New South Wales Police Force
The New South Wales Police Force is a law enforcement agency of the state of New South Wales, Australia, established in 1862. With more than 17,000 police officers, it is the largest police organisation in Australia, policing an area of 801,60 ...
and a
posthumous
Posthumous may refer to:
* Posthumous award, an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death
* Posthumous publication, publishing of creative work after the author's death
* Posthumous (album), ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1 ...
Australian recipient of the
George Cross
The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational Courage, gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, ...
, the highest
civil decoration
Civil awards and decorations are awarded to civilians for distinguished service or for eminence in a field of endeavour. Military personnel might also be eligible for services of a non-military nature. There are various forms of civil awards and de ...
for heroism in the United Kingdom and formerly in the
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...
.
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
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
's No.4 Station. He later transferred to the station at The Rock, a small township about 20 miles from
Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga (; informally called Wagga) is a major regional city in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, with an urban population of more than 57,003 as of 2021, it is an important agricultural, m ...
on 17 September 1928. In May 1929 he transferred to
Gundagai
Gundagai is a town in New South Wales, Australia. Although a small town, Gundagai is a popular topic for writers and has become a representative icon of a typical Australian country town. Located along the Murrumbidgee River and Muniong, Honeys ...
, and then from May 1932 to April 1939 served successively at
Narrandera
Narrandera ( ), until around 1949 also spelled "Narandera", is a town located in the central Riverina region of south-western New South Wales, Australia. The town lies on the junction of the Newell Highway, Newell and Sturt Highway, Sturt highwa ...
,
Deniliquin
Deniliquin () is a town in the western Riverina region of south-western New South Wales, Australia, close to the border with Victoria. It is the largest town in the Edward River Council local government area.
Deniliquin is located at the inte ...
and
Balranald
Balranald is a town within the Local government in Australia, local government area of Balranald Shire, in the Murray (New South Wales), Murray region of far south-western New South Wales, Australia.
The town of Balranald is located where the ...
. He was promoted to constable first class on 23 April 1938. On 20 April 1939 he moved to
Moruya
Moruya ( ) is a town located on the South Coast (New South Wales), far south coast of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the Moruya River. The Princes Highway runs through the town that is about south of Sydney and from Canberra. At the , ...
, 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
A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...
on 3 August 1942. In 1945 he was transferred, for the final time, to Blayney, just eight days before his death.
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
London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 14.9 million. London stands on the River Tha ...
'' of 25 October 1946 and read:
Personal life
Bailey was married, to Florence, and had a daughter and son.
He is buried at
Rookwood Cemetery
Rookwood Cemetery (officially named Rookwood Necropolis) is a heritage-listed cemetery in Rookwood, Sydney, Australia. It is the largest necropolis in the Southern Hemisphere and is the world's largest remaining operating cemetery from the ...
, Sydney, grave no.1959, Section 8 Anglican.
Bailey was a cousin (first cousin, once removed) of
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...
recipient
Jack French.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Eric George
1906 births
1945 deaths
Australian police officers killed in the line of duty
Australian recipients of the George Cross
Burials at Rookwood Cemetery
Deaths by firearm in New South Wales
People from New England (New South Wales)