Nice old US photo, CAlifornia National Guard

[army historian]

This photograph is of private Charles Z. Bailey. This is a Great group of Spanish American War through World War One medals, photo album, and other photos from the estate of Charles Z. Bailey. Charles Bailey was a famous photographer both for the Army and in civilian life. He took many photos of Army life, The Great White Fleets visit to San Francisco, Balboa Park in San Diego, Yosemite, Catalina Island, and Sequoia National Park. He served in the 1st Texas Cavalry during the Spanish American War and around 1900 moved to California and transferred to A Company 1st California National Guard (Cavalry) as a bugler. A Company (Troop) was stationed in San Francisco from 1895 to 1905 and then Bakersfield from 1905 to 1917. He joined B Company, 7^th California Infantry Regiment about 1910 as a bugler. He was in the National Army during WW1 as a Signal Corp Sereant, photographer. Release in 1919 from the the service. He continued his photography business until his death around (1954).

The group includes his personal photo album which chronicles his life from age 3 until 1939. A fantastic group of photos showing his early life, Army service as a Trumpeter in the Texas Cavalry, Spanish American War era, early turn of the century Army life, and the WW1 time period. Separate from the album is a great 8X6 matted photo portrait of him wearing a campaign hat and his two Federal shooting awards in WW1.

There are other photos in the grouping consisting of several group photos of different units, nurses, medical officers, and assorted army life. These don’t have him in the photos, but are work he evidently did for the Army.

Medals and Awards:

Spanish American War Service Medal (current replacement - entitled to - He did not apply for)

World War 1 Victory Medal – no bar (Verified)

Spanish American War Veterans medal with miniture

Military Order of the Serpent medal

1938 Los Angeles National Convention of the American Legion medal

1940 American Legion medal with name tag

Federal 1902 National Guard Expert Rifleman badge with 1912 bar

Federal 1902 Silver Regular Army Marksman “A” badge

Federal 1902 National Guard Marksman bar

First California Cavalry, CNG Badge with 1901 & 1902 bars (medal planchet has #13)

Type 3 California National Guard Shooting badge with Distinguished Marksman 1910, and Expert Rifleman 1911 bars

Name tag for Troop I 1st Texas Cavalry

NRA Life Member badge

M1902 Dress Blue Hat Band Infantry

Charles Z. Bailey was born 29 Jul 1873 in Hudson, WI. Mother’s maiden name was Page. He died 30 Jul 1954 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 81. It appears he had some musical training as there is a photo of him in a fife and drum corp. as a child. In 1895 at the age of 22 he had his own business as a photographer in Ellsworth Wisconsin.

Bailey traveled 2,000 miles from Hudson, Wis. to San Antonio, Texas to join the First U. S. Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders). It appears he was not selected, so instead he joined the First Regiment, Texas Volunteer Cavalry (United States Volunteers), as a bugler.

Charles Z. Bailey was 44 when he enlisted in the army in 1917.Charles was promoted to Sergeant of Signals. He is also shown in a photograph wearing 3 discharge (service) stripes. 25 Jan 2007 contacted the California Archives, I asked them to check on Charles Z. Bailey - A Company California Cavalry (1^st) and B Company, 7^th Infantry with dates. They have 4 pages on Bailey all for B Company, 7^th Inf. I checked with the National Personnel Records Center, They had very little on Bailey. They verified his WW1 Service and WW1 Victory Medal, But they did not have a rank on him.

I will post other photos from this group.

[army historian]

Here is an 1898 photo of Trooper Bailey.

[army historian]

On his horse.

[army historian]

Bailey getting ready to leave Camp Kearny 1919. Notice the 3 discharge stripes on left arm.

Edited December 12, 2009 by army historian