Bagley, Edward
Private
No. 5170, ‘B’ Squadron, 19th (Queen Alexandra’s Own Royal) Hussars
Killed in Action on Monday 24 May 1915 (aged 35)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (Panel 5)
Holywood and District War Memorial
Holywood Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Philip & St James)
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Baggley.
There is indicative evidence that Edward Bagley was a son of William and Margaret Bagley (nee Mahoney). William’s occupation is variously described in different documents as news vendor, groom, general dealer, and printer.
Edward Bagley’s birth was registered in the second quarter of 1880 in St Giles, London. On his marriage certificate in 1906 his age was recorded as 24, and on his 1911 census return it was recorded as 32.
Edward Bagley was a son of William and Margaret Bagley (nee Mahoney) who were married on 4 February 1877 in Westminster, London. They had at least five children:
Mary A (born around 1877/1878)
Edward (born 1880)
Thomas (born around 1885; married Caroline Cheeseman 25 December 1913 in St John the Divine Church of England Church, Kennington, London)
William (born around 1889)
James George (born around 1891/1892)
In civilian life Edward Bagley worked as a general labourer.
Edward Bagley served during the Boer War and was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal (QSA), and the King’s South Africa Medal (KSA). He was awarded the Transvaal and South Africa 02 clasps.
Edward Bagley (aged 24) and Martha Donnelly (aged 25) were married on 27 December 1906 in Holywood Parish Church of Ireland Church, while Edward was stationed in Holywood. Edward Bagley from Brook Street, Holywood, was a Private in the 19th Hussars. Martha Donnelly, a domestic servant from Brook Street, Holywood was a daughter of James Donnelly, a gardener.
In 1911 Edward and Martha Bagley were living in High Street, Holywood with their brother-in-law and sister-in-law William and Sarah Arnold.
Edward and Martha Bagley had at least two children:
Sarah Margaret (born 29 August 1909 at 18 Tyne Street, Belfast)
Edward Henry (born 23 July 1911 at High Street, Holywood)
The Bagley family moved to 3 Patton’s Court, Holywood and prior to the outbreak of the Great War Edward Bagley was employed by the Belfast Steamship Company.
He was a Section Commander in the Holywood contingent of the Ulster Volunteer Force.
During the First World War Private Edward Bagley (No. 5170) served with the 19th (Queen Alexandra’s Own Royal) Hussars.
Private Edward Bagley (No. 5170) was wounded in April 1915 and after a short spell in hospital he returned to the trenches. Some ten days later he was reported to be missing in action during the Second Battle of Ypres and in March 1916 Martha Bagley received official confirmation that her husband must be presumed to have been killed in action on or since 24 May 1915.
Private Edward Bagley (No. 5170) has no known grave, and he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium; on Holywood and District War Memorial and in Holywood Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Philip & St James).
Private Edward Bagley (No. 5170) was awarded the 14 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
In Pension Records Martha’s date of birth is recorded as 29 June 1881.