Fred joined the 8th (King’s Royal Irish) Hussars in 1952 as a Corporal having previously served with the Infantry during the war years.
He had also been a first-class goalkeeper (understudying Harry Gregg in the Irish League, Coleraine FC) so his many talents were put to immediate use.
Fred was more ‘Irish’ than the Irish — perhaps the result of marrying a Bushmills girl — so it was not surprising that after duties, first with MT Troop, then ‘A’ and ‘HQ’ Squadrons he left in 1958 to become recruiter in Belfast for the new Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars and he and Paddy Neeley between them recruited about 120 lads the year the Regiment converted to Armoured Cars for the Aden and Malayan Tours.
He rejoined MT Troop on his return to the Regiment in 1961 and accompanied them to Aden (where on one occasion he was treated with the greatest respect by many Arabs when they thought he must be taking his ‘Harem’ out for the day when he drove the ‘Wives Club’ bus on a picnic).
Then on to Malaya — he was a SSgt by now — where he finally gave up playing for the Regimental Football team owing to a recurring knee injury, though he continued to be its most loyal supporter and assistant manager.
In 1966 Fred was awarded the BEM and the following year returned to Belfast to be SSM of the North Irish Horse for three years.
His last year with the Regiment was spent in Paderborn as HQ SSM then after 24 years Fred left the army to settle down in Bushmills.
His enthusiasm and energy however drove him to become treasurer for the Bushmills Branch of the Royal British Legion where he worked tirelessly in the interests of all ex-servicemen, and he was a most keen and loyal member of the Regimental Association.
Fred Bailey’s sudden and untimely death at the age of 57 came as a shock not only to his family but also to his very many friends.
The Regiment has lost a true and valued Irish Hussar. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Betty and family on their great loss.
