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Sam Bailiff (1897-1916)


Annfield Plain lad who served in 15th DLI died at the Battle of the Somme


Sam Bailiff was the eleventh and final child born to George and Frances Bailiff. Named after a previously deceased brother, Sam was born in January 1987 in Dearham, Cumberland. At some point after the 1911 census was taken the family moved to County Durham where Sam was employed as a miner.

Sam enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI), aged just 18 years old, on 31 May 1915 in Consett, giving his father as his next of kin. On enlistment he became Private 28652 of the 15th Battalion of the DLI and remained in England until the beginning of October. Sam arrived in France on 9 October 1915 where he spent time on the front line.

Sam was on the front lines when the Battle of the Somme began on the 1 July 1916. He received gunshot wounds to the face and neck and was admitted to the No. 34 Casualty Clearing Station at some point between the 1 and 4 of July. The admission and discharge book conveys to some extent the sheer number of casualties treated at the beginning of the offensive with each admission date being noted as being at some point between the 1 and 5 of July. It is clear that there were so many incoming casualties that detailed record keeping became difficult. His wounds were noted as being particularly severe and therefore it would have taken time to make him stable enough to move. Once stable, Sam was evacuated by ambulance train to the No. 2 Stationary Hospital in Abbeville. It was there that he died at 11am on 4 July 1916 due to wounds received in the field. He was 19 years old.

Sam is buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery near the Somme.

Civil Parish: Kyo

Birth date: 1897

Death date: 4-Jul-1916

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Dearham, Cumberland (1911 census)
9 Neal Street, Annfield Plain, County Durham (Enlistment papers)

Employment: Miner (Enlistment papers)

Family: Parents: George Henry Bailiff, Frances Ann Bailiff
Siblings: John Bailiff, Thomas Bailiff, George Bailiff, James Bailiff, Phoebe Bailiff, Cornelia Bailiff, Annie Bailiff, Kate Bailiff

Military service:

Private 28652
15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Served in France and Flanders

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Annfield Plain Cenotaph, Annfield Plain park
Annfield Plain Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, table and plaque
Saint Aidan’s Church, Annfield Plain (closed), roll of honour
Saint John’s Methodist Church, Annfield Plain (closed), plaque
South Moor Memorial Park, gates

Gender: Male

Contributed by Gemma, Durham University Intern

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