Pioneer Alfred Bailey
322085 29th Royal Engineers
Lived at 218 Manchester Road

The most interesting document is one that wasn’t filmed by Ancestry, but there is an imprint of it on the official documents where the ink has made an impression. It is a letter from Alfred’s employer and reads as follows:

“We understand that Alfred Bailey of 218 Manchester Road Burnley, is desirous of joining the Royal (Engineers)
We might state that he has been in our employ as an indentured apprentice for the past three years and the nature of the work he has been engaged upon has been in connection with the building trade and the making of various types of Ammunition Boxes.
We should imagine that this experience would be of service to that section of the Army to which he is desirous to become connected.
We are,
Yours faithfully
For John Stanworth & Bros”

I found an entry for John Stanworth & Bros in the 1 September 1922 edition of the London Gazette. Until 30 November 1919 the three brothers John, Abraham and James had traded as joiners and builders at Barden Lane Saw Mills, the business was dissolved as of that date. John and Abraham continued to trade as John Stanworth & Bros at the same address but as haulage contractors instead.
Alfred continued to work as a carpenter after his discharge, and was called up for war work in WW2 to manufacture the wooden forms that were used to cast concrete.

(Courtesy of Elaine Baker)