Emmanuel was born in Wolverhampton in 1880, the son of William and Eliza Bailey. In 1891, he was living with his parents at 48 Bilston Road, Wolverhampton, along with his step-sisters Sarah and Elizabeth Hunt, brothers Samuel and John, and sister Frances. I have not been able to confirm his whereabouts on the 1901 or 1911 censuses, although there is an Emmanuel Bailey born 1880 in Staffordshire living with his sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Joseph Mitchell at Newport in Wales in 1901, so this is presumably him.
On 3 September 1904, Emmanuel enlisted with the Cheshire Regiment (number 7719), when his trade was given as “baker”. He served continuously until 24 October 1912, when he was transferred to the Army Reserve. He was mobilised at Chester on 5 August 1914. He was reported missing on 24 August 1914, and the International Red Cross Committee communicated to the Foreign Office on 30 October that he had been taken as a Prisoner of War at Thulin. He was sent to the Berlin camp Alexanderinnenstr. By August 1915 he was being held at the camp Doeberitz. The address of his next of kin was given as 37 Francis Street, Cheadle, Cheshire. The Express & Star printed a letter from him. which stated the following:
Dear Sir, – Many thanks for your parcels and postcard, dated 12th and 19th July, which I received quite safely. I am very sorry I did not answer before, but I was short of postcards. Please thank all subscribers to the fund for me, for you do not know what comfort it brings to us in the place. Hoping that we are not too much trouble to you, yous sincerely,
PTE. E. BAILEY, 7719, 1st Cheshire R.
Emmanuel was repatriated on 12 January 1919, and was listed in the “Programme for dinner and entertainments (“Peace Dinner”) to returned prisoners of war at the Baths Assembly Rooms, Wolverhampton, Mar 1919″, organised by the Express & Star. However, here his regiment was given as the Northumberland Fusiliers. His address was given as 95 Granville Street, Wolverhampton. There is also an “E. Bailey” listed on the roll of honour of the Weldless Steel Tube Company Ltd, so this may be the same man. There is a note on his service record from the Guardians of the Poor of the Dudley Union, stating that Emmanuel had been in their employment before 4 August 1914, and they were prepared to offer him employment as an attendant on mental patients once he returned to civil life.