Current Information:

Born-Walworth

Enlisted-Willesden

Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery, Belgium

On 21st May, 1915, the 3rd Middlesex battalion of 85 Brigade, 28th Division moved into the front line in the northern part of the Ypres salient where they had been in action earlier in the month during the fighting associated with the Second Battle of Ypres. They remained here until relieved on 23rd May when they moved back to reserve and support trenches in the GHQ line but moved back to the trenches on 24th May in support where they stayed until relieved on 28th May and went into billets in Poperinghe. Harold Bayley was killed on 26th May but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.