Born in Manchester in 1898, he was the son of a solicitor. Bayley joined the Artists Rifles (as a territorial) in 1914 and became a clerk in an insurance brokers when he left school. After a year, at the age of 18, he joined the RAF. and was later commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps, piloting in France and Germany. He had also been wounded in the war. His RAF record is available
1898 Sep 4. born Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester.
1901 census living with parents at 33 Alderley Rd, Flizton, Lancs
1911 census living with his parents at 34 Northenden Road,Gatley, Cheshire
1915 Feb. Started working as Chief Clerk with Insurance Brokers Kerredop & Co, 16 John Dalton St, Manchester
1916 Dec . Finished working . From newspaper information he appears to have enlisted in 28th London Regt
1917 Mar 10. Posted to 1 S of A (School of Aviation?)
1917 Apr 10. General List (R.F.C.).—The undermentioned cadets to be temp. 2nd Lts. (on prob.) Cyril Dunstan Wakefield Bayley.
1917 Apr 12. Posted to 24 RS
1917 May 7. Posted to 28 ?
1917 May 23. Lt General List
1917 Jun 14. Appointed Flying Officer. Posted to 66 Training Squadron
1917 Oct 10. Unfit General Service - 10 days leave recommended.
1917 Oct 25. Posted to 6 Training Depot Squadron.
1917 Nov 13. Unfit General Service. One and a half months fit Home Service
1918 Jan 1. Passed fit General Service for 1 month high flying at home
1918 Jan 5. Appointed Lt "A & S"
1918 Jan 14. Posted to 199 Depot Squadron, 33 Squadron
1918 Apr 21. To 148 Squadron
1918 May 10. To hospital, no 10 Static Hospital.
1918 Jun 7. to another hospital (cannot read it)
1918 Jun 8. Posted to H.E.
1918 Oct 12. Passed fit for General Service
1918 Nov 15 Posted from Headquarters Mid Area to 13 Training Depot Station for instruction "HP" with a view to becoming and Assistant Instructor
1919 Feb 13. Posted to Observation School of reconnaissance and aerial photography.
1919 May 2. Posted to 14 AAP
1919 May 17. Posted to 15 AAP
1919 Jun 12. Posted to 13 Training Squadron
1919 Jul 13. Posted to 15 AAP with permanent commission as Lieutenant "Observer"
1919 Sep 27 Lt. C. D. W. Bayley. Transferred to unemployed list. Relinquishes commission.
1920 Aug 17. joined the ADRIC with RIC no 72843 ADRIC no 328. Home address: 24, Reynard Road, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester.
1920 Nov 28. Dies in Kilmichael Ambush
It appears to be DI1 Sharp SF leading the cortege
The grave of Cyril Bayley is in the Southern Cemetery, Manchester. The tombstone reads
"In Loving Memory of Cyril Dunstan Wakefield Bayley Lieut. R.A.F. Aux Force RIC. The dear eldest son of George Albert & May Bayley of Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Killed in ambush at Kilmichael, Nr. Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland. November 28 1920, Aged 22 Years 'One crowded hour of glorious life/ is worth an age without a name' "
Donald Ward sent the photos of his grave. The full grave (with a sword and belt hanging from the cross) and a closeup of the inscription. But just for your interest I’ve included a third photo, taken from behind but that shows the nearby grave (white Celtic cross to the left and slightly in the distance) which is Sir John Alcock’s grave. Alcock (and Brown) made the first direct, non-stop transatlantic flight in 2019, landing in Ireland, though Alcock died later that year in a plane crash. Irrelevant regarding the Auxiliaries but just an interesting coincidence as Bayley (given his RFC service) would have presumably been familiar with the Alcock story!!
