Eric George Bailey GC (14 October 1906 – 12 January 1945) was a sergeant with the New South Wales Police Force and a posthumous Australian recipient of the

George Cross The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, has been ...

, the highest civil decoration 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. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

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 state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

'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 56,000 as of June 2018, Wagga Wagga is the state's la ...

on 17 September 1928. In May 1929 he transferred to Gundagai, and then from May 1932 to April 1939 served successively at Narrandera, Deniliquin and Balranald. 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 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 , Moruya had a population of 4 ...

, 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 (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

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 List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

'' of 25 October 1946 and read:

Personal life

Bailey was survived by his wife Florence, daughter Doreen, and son John, who himself later became a police officer. Bailey is buried at Rookwood Cemetery, 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 award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

recipient

Jack French John Alexander French, Victoria Cross, VC (15 July 1914 – 4 September 1942) was an List of Australian Victoria Cross recipients, Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Eric George 1906 births 1946 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 Male murder victims People from New England (New South Wales)