William Bailey (11 May 1918 – 11 March 1985) was a Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve officer and businessman, who was twice awarded the George Medal for his work as a clearance diver during the Second World War.
He received a commission as a temporary electrical sub-lieutenant, and after training took command of an armed mine trawler, HMS Prospects Ahead.
On 29 December 1942 he was awarded the George Medal for "gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty" while defusing shipping mines in the western Mediterranean.
The team was tasked with the D-Day objective of clearing the harbour basin at Ouistreham of mines, and to ensure operation of the lock gates that gave access to the Canal de Caen à la Mer.
[2] In 1947 he was discharged from further service in the Royal Navy; having survived several underwater explosions he was suffering from a duodenal ulcer and nerve deafness.