The AIF Project

Nicholas BAKER

Regimental number1904
Place of birthMargate, Kent, England
SchoolCommerical School, Margate, Kent, England
Other trainingFarming in Africa, 1902-06; in Canada, 1908-13.
Age on arrival in Australia21
ReligionMethodist
OccupationMechanic
AddressBridgewater, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 8.5"
Weight158 lbs
Next of kinFather, James Ernest Baker, Builder, Margate, England
Previous military serviceServed in the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles, Feb 1913-Feb 1914. Won the Recruit Cup. Real name: Cyril George BAKER. Rejoined as Nicholas Baker.
Enlistment date19 January 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll19 January 1915
Place of enlistmentBendigo, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name14th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/31/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 17 April 1915
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll14th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularOutstanding boxer: boxing gloves were among his personal items returned from Gallipoli.
FateKilled in Action 27 August 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli (ridge to the right of Chocolate Hill)
Age at death from cemetery records21
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 17), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James Ernest and Clara Ann BAKER, Margate, England
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 9 July 1915; reverted to rank of Lance Corporal, 1 August 1915; reported missing in action, Gallipoli, 27 August 1918; court of enquiry found that he was killed in action, 27 August 1915.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BAKER Nicholas

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