Second Lieutenant Robert Bailey, who was the brother of Mrs Helen Lees-Milne of Wickhamford Manor, is honoured on the war memorial at Eton College. His name is one of 1,157 former pupils who died in the First World War.
The Eton College war memorial was unveiled on 6th December 1921. It comprises ten large and 13 small bronze plaques placed on the upper part of the colonnade walls. The dedicatory plaque placed at the beginning bears the inscription:
1914-1919
THE NAMES RECORDED HERE
ARE THOSE OF THE 1157 ETONIANS WHO DIED
IN THE WAR
IN WHICH 5660 SERVED
LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THEIR VALOUR
AND THEIR SACRIFICE
WITH LOVE AND THANKFULNESS
AND PRAY GOD TO MAKE US WORTHY OF THEM
IN TIME TO COME
In addition to the general war memorial at Eton College, there is a brass plaque in the College chapel dedicated to Robert and his friend, William Leveson Gower:
IN MEMORY OF
ROBERT NEALE MENTETH BAILEY
KING'S SCHOLAR AT ETON COLLEGE,
DEMY OF MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD
AND AFTERWARDS CLERK IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
HAVING PASSED THROUGH THE INNS OF COURT OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS SQUADRON WHICH HE JOINED IN 1906,
HE BECAME LIEUTENANT IN THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE YEOMANRY IN 1914
AND DIED IN CAIRO OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN PALESTINE
ON THE FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER 1917 IN HIS 36TH YEAR.
ALSO
IN MEMORY OF HIS ATTACHED AND LIFE-LONG FRIEND
WILLIAM GEORGE GRESHAM LEVESON GOWER
KING'S SCHOLAR AT ETON COLLEGE AND CAPTAIN OF THE SCHOOL 1901,
SCHOLAR OF CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD
AND AFTERWARDS CLERK IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
AND BARRISTER OF THE INNER TEMPLE. HAVING PASSED THROUGH THE INNS OF COURT OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS SQUADRON WHICH HE JOINED IN 1907
HE SERVED AS A GENERAL STAFF OFFICER FROM 1915 – 1917
ATTAINING THE RANK OF CAPTAIN
HE TRANSFERRED INTO THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS 1918
AND WAS KILLED IN ACTION WHILE IN COMMAND OF THE 3RD COMAPANY OF THE 1ST BATTALION OF THAT REGIMENT AT AWOINGT IN FRANCE
ON THE NINTH DAY OF OCTOBER 1918 IN HIS 36TH YEAR.