Fred Bailey was just 22 when he was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. He started to play for Exeter City reserves from around 1911 and should not be confused with an earlier ‘Bailey’ who played for St Sidwell’s United and then Exeter City in 1904/05. 

The son of Mr and Mrs Bailey from Priory Road, Exeter he worked for the post office in Exmouth and was as keen a runner as he was a footballer. 

Starting to play as an amateur in Exeter City’s reserves around 1911 he had two seasons playing for Babbacombe before enlisting in the 24th Field Ambulance Regiment of the Royal Army Medical Corps. An early devastating experience of the Front came in October 1914 when Fred witnessed the arrival at a field hospital of an injured George White, captain of Exeter City reserves, who subsequently died from his wounds. 

Taking the opportunity to play for City’s reserves when home on leave during 1914/15, Fred later suffered gunshot wounds in 1915. Spending time recuperating in Exeter he participated in the game at St James’ Park on 27 December played between an Exeter City XI and a Combined Batteries XI played in aid of war funds.     

Thereafter Fred returned to the front and, in a letter home, mentioned that "We get a game of football in and out but in spite of the hard work I am getting, like most of the others, a little fat”.

He was killed on the first day of the Somme by a shell while helping to convey a wounded man along a trench.

In his obituary the Western Times reported that, not only had Exeter City lost a footballer, but the local athletics world had lost a highly-successful sprint runner who may have developed into an even-better half-miler capable of beating the best in the county. 

Fred Bailey is commemorated at the Ribemont Cemetery  Extension and on memorial plaques in Exeter Cathedral and Exmouth.

For more about Fred Bailey’s playing career see his entry in the A to Z of Exeter City players section of the Archive