Born in 1868 at Amersham, son of John Hailey (Maltster and Brewer) and Eliza Catherine Morten. 1871: Aged 2, with his parents and family at Bury End, Amersham. 1881: A Boarder at Frogmore College Rickmansworth. 1891: A Carpenters Labourer lodging with John (a Carpenter) and Alice Taylor at High Road, Little Rissenden. On 22nd March 1892 he married Jane Elizabeth Thompson at Great Missenden. 1901: A Cattleman on a Private Estate, living with his family at 1 Whitbournes Cottages, Cranbrook Road, Ilford. 1911: A Milking Cowman, living with his family at 2 Blind Lane, Loughton. His service record and the 1918 Electoral Roll confirm that on death his home was 103 West Grove, Snakes Lane, Woodford Green.
He initially served in 6th Essex Regiment as Private 22693, and was posted to India from 12th January 1916 to 10th June 1917. As 6 Essex did not serve there, he was probably on attachment to the 2nd Essex Garrison Battalion which did.
He later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, serving as a 2nd Class Air Mechanic with 24 Training Squadron at Netheravon Wiltshire on 1st January 1918. Having the trade of Carpenter in the age of wooden aircraft, he may have worked on airframes rather than engines. He became a member of the Royal Air Force when it was formed on 1st April 1918, and on 16th August 1918 was relocated to 24 Training Depot Station at RAF Collinstown near Dublin. This was a base for training bomber crews, and today is the site of Dublin International Airport.
By October 1918 he was back in England, on the strength of 3 Training Depot Station at Lopcombe Corner Wiltshire. An entry in his service record made on 21st October 1918 following a medical examination categorises him as Bii fit - able to walk 5 miles, and see/hear for normal purposes. However an endorsement on the same sheet confirms that he died that day in the Chiseldon Military Hospital near Swindon in Wiltshire.
His death on Active Service occurred through reasons other than contact with the enemy.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Family Tree
Service Record