Bailey, Ernest Lionel (Corporal, b.1887 - d.1918)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 2585 Corporal Ernest Lionel Bailey, I ANZAC Corps Salvage Section, 1916-1918. Collection consists of a diary covering February-March 1918 in which he records his travels on the Western Front collecting material for the Australian War Records Section [AWRS]; and a notebook containing names, measurement conversions, and some rough notes.

There are also 14 letters written by Bailey to his family. Most are addressed to his wife Emily, whom he affectionately calls 'Aimee' and cover the period October 1916 to April 1918. All the letters display his affection for his wife and desire to be back home with her. Other topics include: life in the trenches; his feelings after the death of his friend Harry McInerney and later of other Salvage Corps members; and his work with the AWRS.

Also included are a number of other letters written to Bailey from different correspondents, including two from the brother of his friend Harry McInerney who died; plus a few passes, notes, and leave and rail tickets. Following Bailey's death on 17 May 1918, is a touching letter from Charles Bean to Major John Treloar complimenting Bailey's fine character 'He was a splendid man, keen and intensely trustworthy', and the great work he did 'More than any man I know he was responsible for the founding of this Australian War Museum with such a splendid series of exhibits'. Bean concludes the letter asking Treloar to pass on his 'deepest and most sincere sympathies to his wife', and says 'I have lost a friend and Australia a right good loyal trustworthy worker in the cause of her great records.'

• Letters written by Ernest Lionel Bailey October 1916 to April 1918.
• 1918 Diary of Ernest Lionel Bailey.
• Note book of Ernest Lionel Bailey.
• Letters relating to Lionel Bailey, July 1917 - March 1918
• Official papers related to Ernest Lionel Bailey November 1917 to August 1917.
• Letter written by C.E.W Bean to Treloar regarding Ernest Lionel Bailey May 1918
• Letter written by the Director to Mrs E Bailey regarding Ernest Lionel Bailey's personal papers June 1927.