The AIF Project

William Henry BAKER

Regimental number814
Place of birthWilliamstown, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationPainter
Address70 Curzon Street, North Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 3.25"
Weight133 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs. F. I. Baker, 70 Curzon Street, North Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date6 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll6 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name31st Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/48/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 9 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll31st Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Date of death20 July 1916
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
118
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915.

Promoted Lance Corporal, Ferry Post, 3 April 1916.

Found guilty, 5 June 1916, of neglect of duty, Moascar, 5 June 1916: deprived of Lance Stripe by Commanding Officer of 31st Bn.

Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 20 July 1916.

Now, 28 July 1916, reported missing.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 1 August 1917, pronounces fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 200504, 903 Pte R.W. KITCHEN, D Company, 31st Bn, 15 December 1916: Witness says he saw the soldier lying dead in their own trenches.'

Second statement, Lt S. TOWNS, C Company, Lewis Gun School, 2 May 1917: 'He was killed at Fromelles on July 19-20th. I did not see this happen but I saw him buried some 2 days later at Sailley (sic) in a portion set apart for a military cemetery.'

Third statement, 1030 Pte J. SOUTHAM, D Company, 31st Bn (patient, Richmond Military Hospital), 27 June 1917: I was tld by Pte. McBain (D. Co. XIV. 31. A.I.F.) that W.H. Baker was killed (I believe shot through the head), during the attack at Fleurbaix on July 19/16. We did not take the ground and he was left in the German lines.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsMother, Mrs H Baker, 64 Holden Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria
SourcesNAA: B2455, BAKER William Henry
Red Cross file 200504

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