Pte
Ernest Baker
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1889 |
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Place of birth: Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 2566 |
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Enlistment date: 14/06/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 7th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 25/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Decline Copse, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 28 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 7P |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Ernest Baker served in the 7th Battalion Australian Infantry, part of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Australian Division. He was a scout and runner in his battalion and ,allthough not awarded in the end, recommended for his gallant services as a runner for the Military Medal after the Battle of Poelcapelle, in the beginning of October 1917.
On October 26, the 7th Battalion took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, the final stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. The ANZAC troops played a minor role in this battle. They had to defend the right flank of the 4th Canadian Division, which had to attack and capture the village of Passchendaele. Because the 7th was located at the far right end of the front, they had a static, defensive mission. On the 26th they had to establish a strong point near Decline Copse extending towards the German strongpoint at Assyria. During the night the 7th Battalion sent out patrols and endured shelling by German artillery.
Private Ernest Baker was killed in action on the 25th of October 1917. As a scout and runner, he participated in most of the patrols and possibly died during the night of October 25 and October 26 while on reconnaissance patrol near Decline Copse. The 7th Battalion’s war diary clearly states that patrols were fired upon from Decline Copse. His remains were never found. On October 31, the Army Corps Commander, Lieutenant-General Birdwood, rendered his appreciation for private Baker’s gallant services during the recent operations. His name is on the (Ypres) Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
On October 26, the 7th Battalion took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, the final stage of the Third Battle of Ypres. The ANZAC troops played a minor role in this battle. They had to defend the right flank of the 4th Canadian Division, which had to attack and capture the village of Passchendaele. Because the 7th was located at the far right end of the front, they had a static, defensive mission. On the 26th they had to establish a strong point near Decline Copse extending towards the German strongpoint at Assyria. During the night the 7th Battalion sent out patrols and endured shelling by German artillery.
Private Ernest Baker was killed in action on the 25th of October 1917. As a scout and runner, he participated in most of the patrols and possibly died during the night of October 25 and October 26 while on reconnaissance patrol near Decline Copse. The 7th Battalion’s war diary clearly states that patrols were fired upon from Decline Copse. His remains were never found. On October 31, the Army Corps Commander, Lieutenant-General Birdwood, rendered his appreciation for private Baker’s gallant services during the recent operations. His name is on the (Ypres) Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
Sources 3
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7th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/24/32). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, BAKER E). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx. Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1597502 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=c7186e94-35f7-4c33-9f3c-babf41b060fb |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7333331 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=11172 |