Baker-W-Col-Sgt-290


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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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)