Lionel Bayley was one of the sons of Frederick and Elizabeth Bayley of Railway Cottages, Mobberley in Cheshire.  Born on 17 August 1893, he first enlisted in to the Cheshire Regiment, but later transferred to the Manchester Regiment to join his elder brother, Fred, who was serving in Lieut Whittall’s No 14 Platoon, D Company, 17th Manchesters (2nd City Pals).

The brothers both went out to France with 30th Division in November 1915.

On 1st July 1916, the 17th Manchesters attacked and captured the village of Montauban.  They sustained serious casualties in the attack when they came under enfilade fire from a machine gun post.  Both brothers survived this without injury, but were wounded later in the day by shellfire. A letter written by Fred to his parents on 5 July briefly tells the story:  

‘I am sorry to tell you that Lionel has been hit in the leg, but I do not think it is very serious.  He was taken to the dressing station and I went to see him.  He was in the best of spirits and expects to be removed to England very soon. 

He was in the trench at the time.  They had dug themselves in after taking the village.  They were being shelled all the time and one burst right in the trench killing five, including the sergeant and wounding him and another.  I was in a trench about 20 yards away and consider myself very lucky. The platoon officer told me he was quite sensible and had never seen a more plucky lad in his life.  Do not worry about Lionel.’

Sadly Fred assurances were mistaken, for unbeknown to him Lionel had died of his wounds the previous day, 4 July 1916, at 45th Casualty Clearing Station.  I assume that as the wound was apparently not serious, complications from an infection must have set in.  Lionel is buried in the Daours Communal Cemetery Extension.

Geoff Smith