The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Joined 6th Bn, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915.

Admitted to No 3 Field Ambulance,, 28 August 1915, and transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, and then to Mudros (febrile); to No 1 General Hospital, Cairo, 1 September 1915 (influenza), and transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital; admitted to Convalescent Depot, Helouan, 10 September 1915 (dental trouible); discharged for light duties, 25 September 1915; rejoined Bn, Tel el Kebir, 21 January 1916.

Transferred to 58th Bn, 17 February 1916.

Transferred to 5th Pioneer Bn, 3 March 1916.

Admitted to 14th Field Ambulance, 2 April 1916, and transferred to 4th Field Ambulance (sore feet); to 1st Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 2 April 1916 (injury, left shoulder); discharged to duty, 8 April 1916; rejoined Bn, Ferry Post, 12 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 25 June 1916.

Promoted Corporal, 12 July 1916.

Appointed Lance Sergeant, 6 December 1916.

Appoinmted Temporary Sergeant, 8 February 1917.

Killed in action, 9 March 1917.

Statement, Red Cross File No 0281003E, 3261 Pte H.C. CALVERT, 5th Pioneer Bn (patient, 51st General Hospital, France), 7 May 1917: 'He was killed by a shell in Endless Ally, Lark Hill, Le Transloy, on March 9th. We were deepening the alley at the time. I saw his dead body and helped to bury it at Needle Dump, about am ile back from Le Transloy. We put a cross on the grave ... '

Second statement, 2720 Lance Sergeant J. LYNCH, 5th Pioneer Bn (patient, Bethnal Green Military Hospital, London, England), 7 May 1917: 'Baxter was killed in Endless Trench about 3 miles from Le Transloy. A party were working in daytime on duckboarding etc. Three were killed by a shell which landed on the trench. They were all buried about 150 yards away by Ozone trench. The graves were marked by crosses ... '

Third statement, 2173 Pte C. FAUSSET, 5th Piobneer Bn (patient, Havre Hospital, France), 7 June 1917: 'He was in C Co., 9th platoon. At "Millers Daughter" between Transloy and Les Boeufs, about the 9th March, we were repairing our tranches. Shelling was pretty heavy. I saw Baxter hit by a shell - his body was badly blown about. I could recognise his face. I helped to buty him the next day at Needle Dump on the right of Flers ... '

Fourth statement, 2590 Sergeant W.J.V. JUDD, 5th Pioneer Bn, 28 June 1917: 'This man was killed on March 9th 1917 near the sugar refinery on the Somme. He was in charge of a party of Pioneers working behind the lines. A shell landed amongt them, and Baxter and some others were killed instantly, the former almost blown to pieces. I saw him hit and also saw Pioneers bringing in [thje] body for burial. Chaplain Orames (Salvation Armmy) conducted the service at the grave ... '