Firefighter Frank Bailey

Registration of British Nationality for Frank Bailey, 1968. Bailey joined the West Ham Fire Brigade in 1955 where he served at Silvertown Fire Station, making him the first full time Black firefighter in England. Catalogue ref: HO 334/1405/10992

• Where was Frank Bailey born? 
• What is the purpose of this document from the Home Office? 
• What is the value of this source for historians studying:
  • immigration history?
  • the history of the British Empire?

Transcript

…

BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1948, SECTION 6 (1)

COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRANTS ACT 1962, 12 (2)

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE COLONIES MADE BY A BRITISH SUBJECT OR CITIZEN OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND ON THE GROUND OF ORDINARY RESIDENCE OR CROWN SERVICE.

CAUTION: To give false information on this Form purposely or recklessly is a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment. (British Nationality Act 1948, Section 28 (1)).

1. I, FRANK BAILEY

of 222 CLEMENTS ROAD, NEWHAM, LONDON, E.6

am of full age and capacity and was born at GEORGETOWN, GUYANA.

On 26^th NOVEMEBER, 1925.

2. My father’s full name (was) LAWRENCE MILTON BAILEY

And he was born at CHRISTCHURCH, BARBADOS on 17^th MARCH 1887.

3. I am (married)
4. My (wife’s) full name (is) JOSIE BAILEY

and (she) was born at WHITLEY BAY, NTW, HUMBERLAND, ENGLAND on 24th JUNE 1935.

5. I am (a) a citizen of the following country or countries* mentioned in section 1 (3) of the British Nationality Act 1948 that is to say [insert name of country or countries.]

GUYANA

OR   (b) a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.

OR   (c) a British subject without citizenship under section thirteen or section sixteen of the British Neutrality Act 1948.

OR   (d) a British Subject by virtue of section1 of the British National Act 1965.

by reason of the fact that [Here state the rounds on which the applicant claims to be such a citizen or British subject.]

6. (a) I am ordinary resident in UNITED KINGDOM

[Here insert the “the United Kingdom” or, if ordinarily resident in any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a colony, a protectorate, or the protected state of Brunei, the name of the island, colony, etc.]

• (b) I am in Crown Service under Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom.
• (a) I have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Colonies during the past five years as follows:

*The countries so mentioned are Australia, Barbados, Botswana, Canada, Ceylon, Cyprus, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Southern Rhodesia, Tanzania, The Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, and Zambia.