Sources Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
Melbourne Herald, 14 June 1915, courtesy of Kim Phillips,
The Spirits of Gallipoli website.
Baker W Col Sgt 290 William 7 Inf Bn 32 Collarmaker Married C of E
Address: North Melbourne, Lothian St, 45
Next of Kin: Baker, Essie, Mrs, wife, 45 Lothian St, North Melbourne
Enlisted: 24 Aug 1914
Embarked: A20 Hororata 19 Oct 1914
Prior Service: 58 Inf Regt, 3 years; Ballarat Inf Regt 9 years; Australian Inf Regt 5 years.
Awards: MSM and MID
Relatives on Active Service:
Baker, Sidney, brother AIF
Cousin, New Zealand Light Horse
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Members of the South and Port Melbourne Thistle Club will to-night tender a complimentary social to Colour-Sergeant W. Baker, Messrs. S. Goodall, J. King, J. Finlay, J. F. Taysom, A. Taysom, and L. Steele, who have been accepted as members of the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Forces. The social will be at the club room, Coventry street, at 7.43 p.m.
The Record. (1914, August 29). Record (Emerald Hill, Vic. : 1881 - 1900; 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74231411
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Company Sergeant-Major W. Baker
(wounded) is 33 years of age. He was a color-sergeant and one of the senior members of the 62nd A T.F. At the time of joining for active service he was sergeant major of the 58th Essendon Rifles. He is a collar maker by occupation, and lives at 43 Lothian-street, North Melbourne. He has a brother — Private Sidney Baker— on active service, also a cousin in the New Zealand Light Horse.
CAREERS OF THE FALLEN. (1915, June 1). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved February 14, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154960281
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- Regimental Sergeant Major Baker was called to give character witness for Watson-G-M-Pte-1203 during a Court Martial for absence without leave.
- Sergeant Major Baker marched prisoners before Colonel Hess 3 Aug 1916 (see Jim Osborn's diaries, below)
- Sergeant Major Baker mentioned the death of Pte Junier at the Gallipoli Landing in a letter to his mother.
Mentioned in this publication:
Our Dear Old Battalion: the story of the 7th Battalion AIF, 1914-1919, by Ron Austin.
Weekly Times article about Williams-P-Pte-1251
The World War I Diaries of Sergeant Jim Osborn p 104
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Baker, W, RSM
Recommendation for a Military Cross
For consistent good work and devotion to duty as RSM during the periods 22 Sept 1917 to 24th February 1918. East of YPRES during the attack on 4th Oct 1917 this Warrant Officer did remarkably good work. Whilst the Bn was assembled for attack, heavy enemy barrage, causing many casualties amongst the carrying party. WO BAKER reorganised the carrying parties and succeeded in getting all the material, ammunition and bombs forward. His behavior under these circumstances not only set a splendid example to the men, but did much towards keeping them steady. For period from 22 September 1917 to the night of 24/25 February1918.
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1068308--68-.PDF
Recommendation for MID
At YPRES, GUEDECOURT, and FLERS sectors, from September, 1916 to February 1917, Warrant Officer BAKER has shown the greatest attention and devotion to duty by organising and controlling ration and SAA parties under many difficulties, such as heavy shell fire and very severe winter conditions, He never once failed to get the hot food rations and SAA parties up to the front line. This Warrant Officer has at all times set a fine example to the NCO's and men of his Battalion, both in the trenches and in billets.
7 March 1917.
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1068727--68-.PDF
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Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) W. Baker MSM has been identified in this photo of the
NCO's of the 7 Inf Bn, taken at Locre, Ypres area, on 21 Feb 1918.
War Service Commemorated
Essendon Town Hall A-F
Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours RSM
The memorial stone for Colour Sergeant William Baker and his brother Sidney
at the Burwood Cemetery. (Photo: Rod Martin, 2011)
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