| Regimental number | 3007 |
| Place of birth | Sydney, New South Wales |
| School | Kogarah Public School, New South Wales |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Occupation | Ironmoulder |
| Address | Bruce Street, West Kogarah, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 31 |
| Height | 5' 9.5" |
| Weight | 143 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Z Baker, Bruce Street, West Kogarah, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Holsworthy, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 17th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/34/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A29 Suevic on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 55th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fromelles, France |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 31 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V. C. Corner Panel No 11), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 160 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Zebulon and Grace BAKER, Percival Street, West Kogarah, New South Wales. Native of Waterloo |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Allotted to and proceeded to join 55th Bn, 16 February 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Killed in action, 20 July 1916. Note on file: 'austr. sold. Baker, r. 55. austr. Bn. am 19.7 in Gegend Fromelles gefallen. Berlin, 23.10.19.' Red Cross File No 200501 has statement from 3160 G.R. BEDFORD, 55th Bn, 21 December 1916: 'Witness says Baker was shot in the head and killed instantaneusly by rifle bullet, while getting back into his trench, told this by Robinson of same battalion (B. Coy) who saw him killed. This happened on 20th July at Fromelles in the morning.' Second statement, 4889 Pte G. ROBINSON, 55th Bn, 7 January 1917: 'There is not the slighest doubt that hewas killed on the 20.7.16 about 10 o'clock a.m. I being with him at the time and speaking to him just before he was shot also he lay beside me fr about half an hour after he was dead, he was a member of my platoon. Height I should think about 5ft [mistranscribed from handwritten letter as 6ft] 8ins ... he was killed instantaneously. I am trying to find out where he was buried.' Third statement, 3144 Sergeant D.J. O'Dea, 55th Bn (patient, 3rd Southern General Hospital, Oxford, England), 2 January 1917: 'I saw Vic Baker ... lying dead in a German trench on July 20th at Fromelles. He had been shot through the forehead, and killed instantaneously on the evening of Julu 19th when we went over to take the trench. He was killed on the top of the German parapet, and pulled down into the trench. He was left there when we retired on July 20th. Our companies were all mixed up during the retirement. I was an eye witness and there was no other man of the same name in the Battalion. The ground afterwards was lost. Description: Tall thin chap, about 27 or 28. freckled. (Note by interviewer: Informant - a very intelligent sergeant & most anxious to help.)' Note on file: Identity disc and coins recd. from Germany and despatched to N/K 24.1.17.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BAKER Vinton Baltam
Red Cross File No 200501 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
