John “Skip” Bailey

3.1
Francis Andrew Bailey

Francis was born in India on 17th Oct 1850. He was baptised at St. Andrews Church, Calcutta.

Francis Andrew Bailey Baptism, Calcutta [8]

From 8th June 1868, Francis was working as a Signaller in the Indian Telegraph Department and started applying for employment in Australia. On 21st May 1874 he obtained a glowing reference from the Superintendent of Telegraphs, Malabar Coast Division. He was also granted six months leave to seek employment.

Reference and leave for Francis Andrew Bailey [9]

Francis arrived in King George’s Sound (Albany, W.A.) aboard the “Baroda” on 20th June 1874.

Francis Bailey Arrives in Albany

He travelled to Perth and on 1st July he was sent a letter from the Postmaster General of the Colony informing him that he had been accepted as a Telegraph Clerk in the Government with a salary £90 per annum.

Appointment as a Telegraph Clerk [10]

Francis married Amelia Farmer (the daughter of Thomas Farmer Jnr) on 13th December 1876 in Guildford. Their children from the marriage were: Francis Andrew Lewis (1877 - ), Harvey Inkpen (1879 – 1947), Oswald Charles Thomas (1881 – 1881), Percy Herbert (1882 – 1966), Oswald Gordon (1884 – 1966), Hilda Amelia (1887 – 1948), Lydia May (1890 -1974) and Muriel Minnie (1893 – 1975).

William George Bailey, Francis’s brother, was also working for the Telegraph Department in 1877 at Eucla, W.A. at a historic time for communications in Australia. The telegraph line between W.A. and South Australia was built between 1875 – 1877 but William never saw the completion, as it began transmitting messages on 8th December 1877, whereas he died at Eucla on 20th November 1877 from what was believed to be appendicitis. [11]

William George Bailey Death Notice

A plaque was placed on a simple wooden cross to commemorate his death.

Plaque on Grave of William George Bailey [12]

On 12th December 1883, Francis travelled back to India. No reason for this voyage can be found.

Francis Travels on the “Charlotte” to India

Francis again travelled to India on 23rd April 1884 and no reason can be found for this voyage.

Francis Travels on “Rollo” to India

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[8] Find My Past
[9] National Archives of Australia
[10] National Archives of Australia
[11] Register of Heritage Places – Heritage Council of W.A.
[12] Register of Heritage Places – Heritage Council of W.A. Eucla Telegraph Station (Ruin)