A post-War ‘Aden Operations’ O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Colonel E. H. O. Bailey, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the Defence and War Medals privately engraved ‘Lt. E. H. O. Bailey. E. Riding Yeo.’; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (Major E. H. O. Bailey. R.E.M.E.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, South Arabia (Lt.-Col. E. H. O. Bailey. REME.) mounted separately for display in a Spink, London, glazed display case, lacquered, contact marks, very fine (7) £400-£500

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1968.

The original Recommendation, dated 9 October 1967, states: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey arrived in Aden during January 1966 when he took over command of 52 Command Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The maintenance and repair tasks of the workshop increased as the internal security situation deteriorated. Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey appreciated the necessity to keep equipment in the workshop for as short a time as possible and he re-organised the maintenance and repair techniques, and in the case of vehicles reduced the average time in the workshops by almost 75%.

He adapted his resources and facilities to repair engineer plant and armoured cars which had not been previously repaired in Aden. This was of the greatest importance, and the workshop’s very real success in keeping equipment serviceable and repairing them when damaged were achieved by the highest level of organisation and man management.

It was necessary to establish a system whereby mined vehicles could be quickly recovered from the operational areas, often under small arms fire and grenade attacks. It was due to Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey’s initiative and determination that since 1 April 1967 recovery teams had successfully brought back for repair from the Battalion areas some 33 armoured vehicles ands 139 soft vehicles. In addition, Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey experimented on the best methods of mine plating vehicles and this resulted in some 700 vehicles being modified, with the result that many soldiers’ lives were saved whilst on operations.

Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey has been responsible for the maintenance and repair of all electrical and mechanical equipment in Aden. Through his workshops have passed Saracen, Saladin, and Ferret armoured vehicles as well as the wide range of soft vehicles, including mobile cranes, and weapons, radios, instruments, and generators. Despite the size of this task, he ensured that his workshop operated efficiently under considerable pressure, whilst maintaining a very high morale amongst his craftsmen.

His selfless devotion, outstanding man management, and organisational ability have been in the highest tradition of the Service and he is most deserving of recognition.

Eric Henry Overton Bailey was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps on 2 January 1943, and served during the Second World War with the East Riding Yeomanry. Transferring to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, he was advanced Captain on 19 February 1949, and was promoted Major on 12 December 1955, and Lieutenant-Colonel on 3 January 1964. He was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1968 New Year’s Honours’ List for his services in Aden as Commanding Officer, 52 Command Workshop, from January 1966 to October 1967, and was promoted to his ultimate rank of Colonel on 31 December 1971. He retired on 7 December 1975.