Regimental number | 1514 |
Place of birth | Sydney, New South Wales |
True Name | CHAYTOR, Robert Stanley |
School | Christian Brothers' Catholic College, Perth, Western Australia |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Labourer |
Address | Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 27 |
Height | 5' 8.75" |
Weight | 154 lbs |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs S Baxter, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
Previous military service | Served in the Cadets, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 6th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/23/2 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A54 Runic on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 5th Pioneer Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of death or wounding | Somme Sector, France |
Age at death | 29 |
Place of burial | Guards Cemetery (Plot III, Row K, Grave No. 9), Lesboeufs, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 174 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: James and Sarah CHAYTOR; Wife: Alice CHAYTOR, 268 McDonald Street, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
Other details |
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 ... ' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, BAXTER Sydney
Red Cross File No 0281003E |